LES 3 MONDES - FRANCE
Paul-Emmanuel Loiret - Serge Joly

Paul-Emmanuel Loiret and Serge Joly met in 1993 at the Ecole Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris la Seine. Completing their diplomas in 2001 and 2000 respectively, until 2006-7 they worked in French and foreign architectural practices of international renown, notably at Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Renzo Piano, Jacques Ferrier and for French Embassies in various countries in Africa.

In 2003, having already embarked upon their professional careers, they decided to work together under the name ‘architecture system’. This period culminated in their selection by the French Ministry of Culture for the ‘Nouveaux Albums de la Jeune Architecture’ for 2005-6; a prize given to 15 architectural practices aged under 35 in recognition of their work and their future potential. Following this award, in 2007 they founded Sarl JOLY & LOIRET, Agence d’architecture.

Since then, the office has had between 6 and 8 employees. Work has diversified both in the public and private sector, notably for schools, sporting and cultural public commissions, but also in scenography, housing and offices.

Since 2011, the practice has been nominated for and won numerous national awards: nominated for the Prix de la première œuvre; 2nd prize Prix national du bois for Les Ganivelles; recipient of the Prix Agora encouragements, best public project, Ville de Bordeaux, for “Les 3 Mondes”, Ginko schools; winner of the Lauriers du bois 2013 for the Fontainebleau Equestrian Centre; EAE 2nd prize and winner of the Prix National de la Construction en Terre Crue (interior design) for the Maison du Parc, Milly-la-fôret.

Paul-Emmanuel Loiret and Serge Joly also teach at the Écoles Nationales Supérieures d’Architecture and at the École Spéciale d’Architecture.

A mesological approach

Over time, we have developed an architectural and architectonic approach based on our interest in context. Comparable to vernacular architecture, we seek to build an architecture that is both simple and complex; an architecture with meaning, carefully placed, environmentally fair and culturally relevant. Going beyond the important link with its function, this is architecture that is determined by its ecological, geographical and sociological contexts. Our architecture is able to fit into its space and time by following a sustainable ecological, technical and symbolic approach, in particular by drawing on bioclimatic design, through the use of renewable materials and local skills and knowledge, and by considering the requirements of the people who will use it. Each project, conceived with respect for the use of energy and resources, both reflects and preserves the singularity and diversity of the physical spaces and cultural traditions within which it takes shape.

Most importantly, our ambition is to develop projects that are vital, efficient, dynamic, durable, and that will provoke poetic and emotional responses from their users. Far from having a formal ideology, we strive to build an ‘architectural device’ that is concerned not just with its own singular presence, but also with the actions and events that it might engender.

«LES 3 MONDES»

SCHOOL COMPLEX, BERGE DU LAC, BORDEAUX

One school per floor, one playground per level: outside spaces accessed directly from their relative interior spaces; 3 ‘ground’-floors. A metaphor for the world, nature, ecosystems; the sky, the forest, the earth. The creche occupies the ‘climatic’ layer: façades reflecting the sky, clouds and the "protective" tree canopy. The nursery school is at the ‘organic’ layer: a pine forest. The elementary school is situated on the geological and topographic layer: like a slab of local Gironde limestone. At each level, landscaped playground terraces, ‘green hearts’, correspond to each of the three schools. Here the idea is that the school building is itself a teaching aid. The building has a role in stimulating the senses, creating an environment conducive to learning.

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