Suspended play net crowns new youth centre’s protective and private space.

Eckersley O’Callaghan provided structural engineering services for the pôle enfance jeunesse, a new building in Montrond-les-Bains, located between Lyon and Clermont. The project features a facade facing the public space, with minimal openings to create a protective and private atmosphere.

The ground floor includes a large communal hall that serves two nursery units, with outdoor play areas and a covered play area, along with a cafeteria, administrative offices, and technical rooms. On the upper floor, the space houses a daycare assistant’s office, a shared motor skills room with a play terrace, and a staff meeting room with a private terrace.

To bring the architects’ vision to life, our team designed a structural solution to support an ovoid opening on the upper floor, where a “catamaran” type net is suspended across the space. This net allows zenithal light to filter through, offering children an additional 30m² of soft, bouncy play area suspended above the void.

The building structure includes a beam and column concrete frame for the main floor and a series of steel frames for the upper level roof. Detailed structural analysis was carried out to ensure the design was both functional and safe, supporting the building’s unique features while meeting architectural and safety requirements.

Location
Montrond-les-Bains, France

Client
Communauté de communes de Forez Est

Architect
Paul Le Quernec

Photography
11h45