Several municipalities in the canton of Valais (Switzerland) have seen their population grow in recent years. Fast connections to service centers and a high quality of life have made these communities very attractive.
At an altitude of 880 m, the commune of Grimisuat, located on the sunny side of the Alps and ten minutes from the city of Sion, needs to expand its school infrastructure. In addition to classrooms, the building program includes a library, a meeting room for 300 people, storage space for the municipal archives and changing rooms for outdoor sports activities.
The school extension is the result of an open architectural competition held in 2014. The jury appreciated the precision of how the new building fits into the steep natural slope of the site, and its ability to link the various outdoor spaces on the plot, located on different levels.
The extension gives the community a single, functional building with quality spaces. This building, which is alive all day, all year round, thus becomes a catalyser for the dynamic life of the village.