A new threshold for village and landscape

Located at the entrance to the village of Chevrens, the Centre de Chevrens forms a carefully structured boundary between the built environment and the surrounding landscape. Designed as a boarding and educational facility for adolescents, the project by Lacroix Chessex reinforces the linear village-street typology through an articulated sequence of volumes and narrowings. The ensemble defines a generous courtyard that opens towards the road, establishing a deliberate spatial transition from open fields to the more intimate village scale.

Functional clarity through architectural duality

Two volumes surround the central courtyard, each dedicated to a distinct purpose. The larger of the two accommodates living quarters, combining administrative and residential functions across three levels. Opposite, the smaller volume houses educational spaces and lies closer to the road. Though part of a unified architectural vision, the volumes are formally and functionally distinguished—creating intuitive spatial legibility that mirrors the institution’s dual focus on daily life and structured learning.

Material translation of local traditions

The project’s material language draws from the village’s architectural vernacular. While local homes typically feature masonry, large agricultural buildings use timber cladding. Lacroix Chessex synthesises these elements by casting concrete walls in wooden formwork, leaving imprints that recall timber boards. This gesture not only honours regional construction traditions but also reinterprets them in a contemporary, monolithic expression.

Concrete facades with a wooden memory

Up close, the facades reveal the illusion: what appears to be timber is in fact finely detailed concrete, with visible wood grain fossilised into the surface. This approach imbues the Centre with a timeless quality, as if the buildings were shaped by and for their surroundings over time. The architectural language remains understated yet rich in texture, quietly anchoring the institution within the historic fabric of Chevrens.

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