In Paris’s 19th arrondissement, architecture studio Associer has completed the transformation of the former Jean Quarré secondary school into a dual-purpose facility, the James Baldwin Media Library and Refugee House. The project demonstrates how an existing educational building from the 1970s can be reused to serve both cultural and social support functions in a dense urban setting.
The original concrete-framed school, built in the modernist era, had been vacant for several years. Instead of opting for demolition, Associer retained the core structural elements and introduced new interventions using timber, raw earth, and salvaged materials. The result is a space that accommodates both a public library and services designed to aid refugee integration.
Project Overview
- Project Name: James Baldwin Media Library and Refugee House
- Location: 19th Arrondissement, Paris, France
- Architects: Associer
- Existing Structure: Jean Quarré Secondary School (1970s)
Adaptive Reuse Strategy
The design process began with a structural assessment of the five-storey school building. Rather than removing and rebuilding the entire structure, parts of the concrete frame were cut away to create openings and new circulation paths. These removed sections of concrete were not discarded; instead, they were repurposed within the project.
“It is not necessary to demolish everything in order to rebuild,” said Philippe Madec, president of Associer. “The reuse of elements from the existing building sees it become the quarry for its own future.”
To reduce the use of high-energy materials, no new concrete was added. The team chose bio-based alternatives and reused materials for all new construction, including timber frames, raw earth wall panels, and salvaged signage.
Facilities and Program Layout
The reused school structure was reorganized into three interconnected parts:
- The James Baldwin Media Library occupies the largest volume of the former school.
- Arranged around a central courtyard with a tree at its center.
- Includes a ground-floor welcome space, library stacks, booths, and workstations across multiple levels.
- Vertical cut-outs in the slabs allow light and visibility between floors.
- Arranged around a central courtyard with a tree at its center.
- The Refugee House is housed in a newly constructed two-storey block.
- Includes classrooms, shared kitchens, physical activity zones, and offices.
- Designed to support day-to-day integration services, such as legal and administrative assistance.
- Includes classrooms, shared kitchens, physical activity zones, and offices.
- A connecting structure called “the link” joins both volumes.
- Built with timber and prefabricated raw earth walls.
- Provides co-working areas, event rooms, and shared circulation.
- Covered in a latticed timber frame that allows airflow and daylight, forming semi-outdoor terraces.
- Built with timber and prefabricated raw earth walls.
Public and Outdoor Areas
At the entrance of the site, Associer designed a public square that repurposes concrete elements from the original building:
- 135 salvaged concrete slabs have been used to pave the square.
- Seating and planters made from timber mark resting and waiting zones.
- The edge of the Refugee House features a verandah-like covered space opening onto a shared community garden.
These additions provide open-air spaces without expanding the project’s material footprint.
Construction Methods and Material Choices
To stay consistent with a reuse-first approach:
- No new concrete was poured on-site.
- Timber was used for both structure and screening, chosen for its ease of prefabrication and assembly.
- Poured raw earth walls were employed in the new volumes, offering low embodied energy and thermal mass.
- Signage and finishes from the original school were cleaned, adapted, and reinstalled in new locations.
The construction process used a combination of site-salvaged materials and bio-based prefabricated elements to limit transport, waste, and energy usage.
Broader Context
The project adds to a growing list of adaptive reuse initiatives in France. It shares its intent with other recent transformations such as:
- The multimedia library in Herblay-sur-Seine by Atelier WOA.
- The long-term refurbishment of the National Library of France by Bruno Gaudin Architectes.
Conclusion
The James Baldwin Media Library and Refugee House stands out for combining cultural and humanitarian functions in a single project. It provides a working example of how disused public buildings can be adapted to meet current urban needs without relying on demolition or large-scale reconstruction.
Images- dezeen.com
