Collège de Riez

The rehabilitation of the Collège de Riez transforms a 1960s school built above buried Roman archaeological remains. AT Architectes approached the existing building itself as a contemporary vestige, using the project as a form of architectural excavation. Portions of the façades were cut back to reveal successive layers of construction, making visible both the physical depth of the building and the accumulation of time, materials and labour embedded within it.

The project restructures a 500-pupil secondary school, gymnasium and surrounding outdoor spaces while significantly improving environmental performance. Existing masonry elements are reused as passive radiators, complemented by a wood-fired heating system and renovation targets including BBC, Effinergie Rénovation and HQE Rénovation Excellent.