Secondary school playground – LANNION (Côtes-d’Armor)
RetourCompletion year 2002
Contracting Authority Regional Council of Brittany
Mission Renewing a small playground
Project Management Team Landscape architects and designers Laure Planchais (mandated agent)
Surface area 1,272 m²
Budget €75,000 exc. VAT
Ratio €59 exc. VAT per m²
The landscaping of the lower playground at the Lycée Félix Le Dantec secondary school was part of a larger consideration regarding the renewal of the entrance and the main playground, to be carried out over a period of several years.
The diagnosis performed on the sector showed that the plane tree plantations, poorly done at the time, were preventing the trees from growing harmoniously. In addition, the area was under intensive use by the students on account of the nearby foyer/cafeteria. There was also a need to restructure a pool (permanently empty for safety reasons) and some concrete low shoring walls.
In the first place, the landscaping consisted in thinning out the plane tree plantations by removing half the trees and enriching the soil with substrate in order to provide more light and improve tree growth.
The former pool was turned into a stage by covering it with a deck made of exotic wood. The podium hosts student events and cultural groups: music, theatre, dance etc. The remaining soil was levelled without changing the rainwater collector network (to save costs) by using pink granite gravel.
Lastly, the low walls were turned into exotic wood seating, forming an amphitheatre that can host an audience on three levels of seating during shows.
The seating is also used day-to-day as long, friendly benches for recess periods.
Additional natural blocks of granite have been positioned in such a way so as to obey current safety regulations regarding the risk of falls from great heights.
Feedback (last visit in 2014)
- A few of the boards making up the stage are getting loose and should be repaired.
- The plane trees were ultimately trimmed too thoroughly.
- The space appears to be well used and appreciated by the pupils.