Multipurpose Sports Hall and Secondary School Collège du Léman, The village of Apples is located at the foot of the Jura mountains, north of the city of Morges. To address today’s strong population growth in the region, a dozen municipalities joined forces to build a new school complex.
© Thomas Jantscher
The Collège du Léman, an extension of the Collège du Plateau, is built on a shelf on otherwise sloped terrain overlooking Lake Geneva, faces the existing building and defines an outdoor space used as playground. The new building comprises two parts aligned in the form of an “L”, one to accommodate classrooms, the other a multipurpose hall.
© Thomas Jantscher
Through the shape of its roof, the new building engages a dialogue with the existing building and, through its location at the entrance to the village, maintains a strong link with the site and its environment.
© Thomas Jantscher
The design of the new school complex is marked by the alternating use of lateral façades crowned by high roofs and pitched façades reminiscent of the typical features of large Vaud farmhouses. Designed with copper cladding and wide windows, the extension stands out from the existing building by the abstract use of materials without denying its allegiance to the new complex.
© Thomas Jantscher
From the playground, the main entrance connects to a walk-through space used both as a foyer for the multipurpose hall and as a dining hall. Inside, the classrooms and corridors benefit from the spatial potential of the inclining roof as well as from the generous supply of natural daylight further amplified as a result of reflection on the white concrete walls.
© Thomas Jantscher
Like the town council chambers located under the eaves of the second floor and orientated by a large window in the direction ofthe village, the materials and large-sized openings convey an atmosphere of protection and overture to the outside world.
Project Info
Architects: Graeme Mann & Patricia Capua Mann
Country: Switzerland, Apples
Area: 4609 m²
Year: 2009
Photographs:Thomas Jantscher
Project Manager: Dominik Riser
Collaborators: Sara Gerber, Jean Michael Taillebois
Façade Design: same as architects and assistants
Sanitation: Schumacher Ingénierie
Facade: Arteco, Chexbres
Heating/ Ventilation: Chammartin & Spicher SA, lausanne
Isabelle Laurent is a Built Projects Editor at Arch2O, recognized for her editorial insight and passion for contemporary architecture. She holds a Master’s in Architectural Theory from École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville. Before joining Arch2O in 2016, she worked in a Paris-based architectural office and taught as a faculty adjunct at the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris. Isabelle focuses on curating projects around sustainability, adaptive reuse, and urban resilience. With a background in design and communication, she brings clarity to complex ideas and plays a key role in shaping Arch2O’s editorial