"Draw me your schoolyard of tomorrow" – The architects' plan responds to the students' requests

Continuing the work carried out with the Regional Natural Park to imagine the future of their schoolyard, the eco-delegates of the Jean-Baptiste Darnet school complex in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche discovered the new plan from the architectural firm in charge of the project.

An original consultation phase

Initiated by the teacher in charge of the eco-delegates, this project aimed to engage students in discussions about their needs and expectations regarding the schoolyard, while also addressing current environmental and climate issues. In 2025, the students benefited from the support of Park staff, specializing in environmental education and climate change adaptation, and the Haute-Vienne Council for Architecture, Urban Planning and the Environment (CAUE).

During this consultation phase, a survey was conducted by the eco-delegates among the various users of the courtyard. The students then developed proposals for a more pleasant, cooler, greener, and more biodiversity-friendly courtyard. They presented their work to the Schurdi Levraud Architecture Agency, which is in charge of the project, and to the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, the owner of the premises (link to article July 2025).

On April 22, 2026, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and the architectural firm returned to the school complex to present the new courtyard plan and the planned renovations to certain buildings. A discussion took place with the eco-delegates, the headmaster Mr. Mathelin, and some staff members.

A future courtyard in line with students' needs

During this meeting, the architects adopted a pedagogical approach, reviewing the needs expressed by the students and specifying whether and how they were able to address them. Thus, the future courtyard will include 48% of surfaces are permeable. instead of the current 11%. This includes removing tar from part of the courtyard, laying turf, planting trees directly in the ground, and mulching part of the schoolyard with wood chips to limit mud on rainy days.

A second covered playground will be created for the middle school, in addition to the one that already exists for the high school. In a reuse logic, benches and tables will be kept and new Furniture will be added made from local chestnut wood.

The students had also asked to be able to hold classes outside. In order to find a balance between desires and the available budget, the architects designed a system of several wide steps in the center of the courtyard which allows people to sit during breaks and to work outside.

A delightful surprise in this new plan is the integration of heritage elements, a nod to Jean-Baptiste Darnet who discovered kaolin. Rather than incorporating mosaics into the courtyard, the architects worked with an innovative technique: incorporate porcelain waste in the new asphalt of the courtyard. A proposal that blends reuse and collective memory and which responds to the students' wish to have a single courtyard showcasing the local heritage.

The architects also explained what could not be taken into account to date, including the request to create water fountains.

In addition to the courtyard, work is also planned on certain buildings to improve the comfort of students and teachers. Exterior insulation of the facade and the installation of chestnut sunshades sourced from Haute-Vienne are planned to limit summer overheating, as well as the creation of a new library and media center.

Several more validation phases before the work begins

At this stage, the project is a "preliminary detailed design." This means that the main outlines are established, but further work and approvals are still required before a final project can be reached. Therefore, the specific species to be planted, as well as the design of the new street furniture, for example, are not yet known.

Therefore, it will be necessary be patient before discovering the new courtyard. The works will take place during school holidays, in 2027 or 2028. The students will not participate in the works but may be invited for site visits.

Until then, the architects have pointed out that « It's rare to involve students in a project This allowed us to readjust our proposals while taking into account the Region's budget requests. It's reassuring for us architects to know that we're meeting needs. We're all moving in the same direction.

Maxence, a first-year student, particularly appreciated the time the architects spent presenting the project and indicates "I certainly hope that this new courtyard will raise the school's profile and encourage student involvement, because I don't know of any others! ».

Ultimately, this project highlights a common direction shared by the students, the architects and the Region: to transform the courtyard into a more pleasant living space and one more conducive to biodiversity.