in Varennes

BRINGING THE INDOOR OUTDOORS

REDESIGN OF COLLÈGE SAINT-PAUL SCHOOLYARD IN VARENNES

Taktik design has completely redesigned the exterior schoolyard of Collège Saint-Paul, a high school institution renowned for its sporting vocation located in Varennes, in the suburbs of Montreal near the St. Lawrence River. Initially and mainly composed of asphalt areas, the schoolyard presented a development problem due to a street that divided the space into two distinct sections. This street and an adjacent residential lot were purchased by the college to unify the schoolyard and improve its functionality.

The different areas have been designed in relation to the gradation of activities. Near the college, the lounge area consists of various pieces of furniture, all designed and manufactured by Taktik design and aimed at practicing calm activities such as socializing, reading or relaxing. High tables in solid wood and aluminium serve as meeting or small-group workstations. The long picnic tables made of FSC-certified wood and yellow zinc-plated steel allow outdoors dining while protecting students from the sun or rain thanks to the stretched canvases.

Client/operator Collège SaintPaul

Architect Taktik Design CA – Montréal, H2S 1Y7 www.taktikdesign.com

Design team Cynthia Papineau and Zoé B. De Passillé (Design and Project Management), Nicola TardifBourdages (Collaboration), Francois Leandre (Graphic design)

Author Taktik Design

Photos Maxime Brouillet

Official opening 2020

To take advantage of beautiful sunny days, wooden platforms are integrated into the landscaping. The carefully thought-out placement of the backrests on the platforms makes it possible to use the furniture while sitting as on a bench or in a lounge chair mode.

Outdoor classroom The central section, outlined to serve as an outdoor classroom, is made up of small house-shaped pergolas partially shaded by stretched canvases. Equipped with alternating long high tables as well as picnic tables, the space allows the accommodation of larger groups. Adjacent to the classrooms, a two-step high elevated area covered with dynamic shaped paving stone and equipped with a luminous bollard supplied with electricity becomes a theatre stage whose performances can be observed from the green platform.

Entertainment area The course continues with the entertainment area made of synthetic turf allowing the practice of activities with a higher level of intensity. An outdoor training circuit with different

exercise modules ranging from static and dynamic stretches to balance games are found alongside a few anodized aluminium ping-pong tables. A colourful running track of over 160 m encircles all the elements in the central area.

The active sports areas feature a basketball court with the colour identity of the college. The marking has been developed to allow a subdivision of three sub-fields. A multisport field with synthetic grass surface strips and a space to practice spike-ball are now also available. Large sports fields are found at the end of the schoolyard: dek hockey and a professional-sized soccer field complete the new facilities. With the addition of outdoor lighting, these light fixtures are now shared with the surrounding community after college opening hours.

The presence of numerous water retention basins preserves the vitality of the abundant vegetation. These are delimited by large stones from a quarry in the region. A gigantic “PAUL” in the emblem colour of the college, in aluminium, proudly sits in the center of the space, thus marking the new era of this schoolyard.