A combination of traditional stone walls and surfaces wrapped in pine battens help the Groupe Scolaire à Strega school in Corsica blend in with the surrounding wooded landscape.
Amelia Tavella Architectes designed the school for a site in the Corsican village of Santa-Maria-Siché.

Located on the edge of the village in the island's Corse-du-Sud region, the site is surrounded by forests and meadows, with outstanding views towards the nearby mountain ranges.
The land was previously used for horse riding, before the local municipality asked the studio headed by architect Amelia Tavella to develop a proposal for a new school building.

The building is designed to complement its rural setting, predominantly through the use of natural materials including stone and timber. "Wood, omnipresent in this context, offers the building the opportunity to live in real symbiosis with the nature," explained the studio.

"Proposing a delicate implementation, this natural material is above all synonymous with comfort. It is a choice in total adequacy with a programme for young kids," continued the practice
The building slots in between two century-old oak trees, with its main timber-clad volume containing classrooms, a multipurpose hall, reception, cafeteria and office.

Perpendicular to this block are a pair of wings that extend to the north and south. One accommodates the director's office, staff room and archive, while the other contains a nursery.

The main structure...