L’école du Vieux Bourg

Cagnes-sur-Mer

Rehabilitation Award

By Maurice Gouiran

The project aimed to revitalize the Vieux Bourg School in Cagnes-sur-Mer by merging the existing buildings with the neighboring bourgeois villa, Maison Blacas. It demonstrates that adapting old buildings for modern use can create desirable and eco-friendly environments.

Floor levels were aligned, and vertical circulation was optimized to ensure accessibility. The central courtyard serves the communal spaces (cafeteria, library, multipurpose room) and extends into a garden, maintaining the unity of the school complex. The reuse of on-site materials was central to the approach, incorporating repurposed elements such as brick tiles, cement tiles, and historical pieces like millstones used as tables and window sills as stair steps. This method fostered a unique, respectful environment.

The project offers an innovative vision for urban rehabilitation, breathing new life into neglected heritage while meeting modern needs.

Jury’s Opinion

«School facility programs can sometimes be a great source of inspiration for developers, architects, and users. This is the case for the Vieux Bourg school. Despite the challenges, the municipality of Cagnes-sur-Mer chose to preserve the existing school in the village center, and the architects have enhanced it with remarkable care.

The exteriors blend into the village fabric, the existing structure has been carefully rehabilitated following best practices, and the necessary extension was carried out with humility and eco-responsibility. Great attention was paid to this everyday architecture, a small local facility of exceptional quality.»

Maîtrise d’ouvrage : Ville de Cagnes sur mer

Architectes : Plò architectes

Surface SHON : 865 m² 

Montant des travaux : 2,8 M€

Date de livraison : juin 2024