The Higher Maritime School is located in a more than appropriate place - in one of the largest ports in France. The building stretches along the water for more than 100 m, and with its second facade it faces the city. Its noticeable volume, covered with dark perforated panels of anodized aluminum, with a sharp nose meets ships arriving in Le Havre, at the same time resembling a ship on the high seas and a shark - at least this is how architects see their brainchild.
The school building is raised above the ground due to the relief, and also visually, due to the solution of the facade: the first tier is glazed and looks like a wave that lifted the ship.
The interior is organized around a "street staircase" leading through all the tiers to the upper terrace, from where a view of the port and the city opens. The architects implemented in their construction the concept of "ship at school": their construction is a kind of training ship with "simulation" engine rooms, an engine and 10 "simulators" of bridges and ladders.
In addition, like on a ship, infrastructure elements are not only not hidden here, but even emphasized: such visibility serves educational purposes. And the building is also autonomous - almost like a real ship. It consumes 39% less energy than a similar standard, generates with 850 m2 solar panels on the roof provide more electricity than it consumes, and heat pumps, which work on heat exchange with water in the harbor, fully provide heating and cooling of the school premises.
The total area of the building is almost 10,000 m2, its budget was 27.8 million euros.
