Page 62 - Designing Ways 242

ON THE
TERRACE

Collège Saint-Paul: Bringing

the Indoor Outdoors

Varennes, Canada

aktik design has completely and yellow zinc-plated steel allow outdoor
redesigned the exterior dining while protecting students from
Tschoolyard of Collège Saint-Paul, the sun or rain thanks to the stretched
a high school institution renowned for its canvases. To take advantage of the
sporting vocation located in Varennes, beautiful sunny days, wooden platforms
in the suburbs of Montreal near the St. are integrated into the landscaping. The
Lawrence River. Initially and mainly carefully thought-out placement of the
composed of asphalt areas, the schoolyard backrests on the platforms makes it
presented a development problem due possible to use the furniture while sitting
to a street that divided the space into as on a bench or in a lounge chair mode.
two distinct sections. This street and an The central section, outlined to serve
adjacent residential lot were purchased by as an outdoor classroom, is made up of
the College to unify the schoolyard and small house-shaped pergolas partially
improve its functionality. shaded by stretched canvases. Equipped
The different areas have been designed with alternating long high tables, as
in relation to the gradation of activities. well as picnic tables, the space allows
Near the College, the lounge area consists the accommodation of larger groups.
of various pieces of furniture, all designed Adjacent to the classrooms, a two-step
and manufactured by Taktik design, and high elevated area covered with dynamic
aimed at practising calm activities such shaped paving stone and equipped
as socialising, reading, or relaxing. High with a luminous bollard supplied with
tables in solid wood and aluminum serve electricity becomes a thestre stage whose
as meeting or small group workstations. performances can be observed from the
The long picnic tables made of FSC green platform.
certified wood, a forest certification The course continues with the
system that protects forest ecosystems entertainment area made of synthetic turf
and rare or threatened wildlife species, allowing the practice of activities with

62 Issue 242 • dw