The Josephine Baker school complex is located in the St Anne district of Dijon. It is part of a remarkable architectural environment, rich with vegetation. The main challenge of this project is to find balance between the new and the old elements, the built and the green components of the landscape. Our proposition reveals the existing building and its history, while creating wide visual openings towards the green heart of the project.

The new access point to the school complex is moved into the Saint-Anne Park, as a guided transition from the city to the school complex through the green landscape. This new access point is intended to be a calm, safe and secure transitional space, which allows the children to reach their respective learning spaces. This new focal point concentrates public access to the school and leisure centre in a single forecourt, prioritising soft mobility and giving it a central role in the life of the neighbourhood.

The redevelopment project integrates the surrounding landscape into the heart of the school and teaching complex. Thanks to a wide opening to the outside, the learning spaces are designed to be in direct contact with the surrounding context. The organic, flexible design of the playgrounds contributes to the children’s development, encourages their self-expression and contrasts with the more structured teaching environment.

The new landscaping creates spaces for playing and learning, all in a stimulating environment. It also provides a new way of looking at the environment, near and far, urban and rural, mineral and vegetal. From learning about the world of plants for the youngest children to growing food in the vegetable gardens for primary school children, these playgrounds open up a whole new range of opportunities for school and extra-curricular activities.