Covered School Playground Jean Santini - Porto-vecchio - Corsica

English description provided by the architects.

Portivechju, built on its promontory, developed for a long time around its historic center before opening up toward the sea.

Its rampart—which serves as both a fortification and a living space—defines the town's layout and reflects a constant dialogue between topography and architecture.

This rampart-like form becomes the project's defining feature: through its shape, materials, and boldness, it extends the dialogue between history and landscape. The school thus emerges as a special place for passing on this heritage.

The new walls complement the existing structure while clarifying the pathways and uses of the courtyard. More than just a covered playground, the project offers a space for discovery where the materials themselves tell a story.

The engraved concrete walls evoke the history of the city and the school, serving as surfaces for play, rest, and climbing.

The children were involved in the project from the very beginning. Working with a local ceramic artist, they created ceramic tiles bearing their hand-prints.

The project also reintroduces living elements: removing impervious surfaces, restoring the natural ground, creating a water feature, and planting native species. This presence of nature plays a vital role in the children's education.

This approach extends to the construction itself. The sanded concrete walls incorporate crushed white limestone aggregate sourced from a former local quarry, in line with a philosophy of frugality and reducing the carbon footprint.