The Porte de Valenciennes school is located in the heart of a very active urban area, undergoing complete transformation. The school opens up to this dynamic environment. It is designed to stimulate the children’s curiosity while tending to them, thanks to a space both functional and favourable to work and concentration. The building’s geometry takes full advantage of the site’s constraints. The four levels are superimposed and slightly offset to create outdoor spaces increasingly distant from the elevated metro crossing the lot. These long balconies benefit from maximum sunlight. The school’s sports field is situated on the rooftop, offering a unique view of the city skyline. The façades, following the vernacular, are built of the most local, common material, traditional brick. This light-coloured envelope is punctually enhanced with glass bricks. It offers variations between solid walls and perforated “machrabiya” filtering walls. Thus, the building’s volume presents a both unitary and varied appearance, adapting to every use and situation.