Architectural design competition

Cradled by the Vispa river, the "IM SAND" site embodies the demographic development of the municipality of Visp. The competition calls for the construction of a new elementary school and double gymnasium on an already well-developed site. For this reason, the project's integration into its current environment is of particular interest. The construction project therefore proposes to develop the character of a tree-lined public space, as well as to enhance the centralization of all the programs with a view to both economy and ecology.

Our concept brings the entire program together in one compact, staggered building, limiting its impact on the
This allows the creation of vast natural spaces and parks, promoting biodiversity. Its central location makes it universally accessible.

The new building blends in with its surroundings through its graduated massing, which refers both to the surrounding housing and to the existing school buildings, creating a transition with the different urban scales.

The device functions as three distinct entities, linked like magnets that complement each other. Each entity takes the form of a parallelepiped with its own characteristic. This layout enables efficient and effective
and creates an interesting interplay of volumes. Finally, the last unit, to the north, also features a small patio for teachers' use.

The first floor is dedicated to the extracurricular program, including the day-care center, the aula and the semi-underground sports hall. The upper floors house the elementary school program, while the lower floor is reserved for the double gym program. The atmosphere is enhanced by two patios in the floor corridors. With a view to optimizing space and compactness, we decided to embed one of the two all-weather courts in the roof of the southern part of the building.