Cité Scolaire Internationale De Jacques Chirac / Rudy Ricciotti + Roland Carta

Architects: Rudy Ricciotti, Roland Carta (Reichen et Robert Associés)
Year: 2024
Photographs: Lisa Ricciotti, Rudy Bourianne, Aix-Marseille, Bcomp, Le Méridional, DR, madeinmarseille.net
Project Owner: Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
General Contractor: Bouygues Bâtiment Sud-Est
Landscape: STOA
Structure and Facades: Lamoureux & Ricciotti Ing.
Electrical systems (CFO/CFA, SSI, VRD): WSP/BG
HVAC / Plumbing: Garcia/G2I
Environmental Quality, Commissioning: Inddigo
Catering: AC2R
Public Safety and Security Study (ESSP): SUR&TIS
Acoustics: GAMBA
Economics: R2M
Functionality and Program Consultants: AMO-AU
Material Developer: Bcomp
Cladding Manufacturer: Temca
Technical Certification: CSTB (Experimental Technical Assessment – ATEx)
City: Marseille
Country: France

Largest-Ever Application of Flax-Based Composites for Exterior Cladding, a public education complex by Rudy Ricciotti and Roland Carta in Marseille, advances material innovation through the use of ampliTex™ flax composites developed by Bcomp and fabricated by Temca, completed in September 2024. The 5,000m² facade comprises 880 resin-molded openwork panels made with over 8,000m² of flax fabric, using resin transfer molding to combine glass and flax fibers with polyester resin, finished in a UV-resistant white gel coat, and mounted with stainless steel inserts and structural adhesives; the system improves shading, thermal performance, and weight, and was certified by CSTB through an Experimental Technical Assessment (ATEx), with engineering by Lamoureux & Ricciotti Ingénierie. The trellis-like design responds to Marseille’s Mediterranean context and sets a benchmark for adapting aerospace-derived composites into civic architecture, showing how regenerative flax fibers support material sustainability and transition into public-scale infrastructure.

Cité scolaire internationale de jacques chirac / rudy ricciotti + roland carta

The Cité Scolaire Internationale de Jacques Chirac educational complex in Marseille demonstrates the largest architectural application of flax-fiber composites to date, marking a pivotal development in the use of bio-based materials in large-scale public architecture. Designed by Rudy Ricciotti and Roland Carta and inaugurated in September 2024, the school integrates 5,000m² of cladding made from ampliTex™, a flax-based composite developed by the Swiss cleantech company Bcomp. This project signals a significant shift in material thinking, transferring composite technologies originally developed for the automotive and aerospace sectors into architectural design. Developed in partnership with French composite manufacturer Temca and delivered for general contractor Bouygues Bâtiment Sud-Est (BBSE), the facade is composed of 880 openwork panels mounted with stainless steel inserts and structural adhesives. Each panel, shaped using five distinct molds, weighs between 18 and 37 kilograms, resulting in significant weight reductions compared to conventional materials like concrete. The panels were manufactured using a resin transfer molding process, incorporating ampliTex™ flax fiber and polyester resin reinforced with glass fiber. A white gel coat was applied to ensure resilience against Marseille’s UV exposure, pollution, and marine climate.

Over 8,000m² of ampliTex™ technical fabric were used, making the school the largest architectural deployment of Bcomp’s natural fiber composites. The cladding contributes to energy performance by reducing solar heat gain while maintaining consistent daylighting. Panel placement was calibrated to respond to the building’s orientation and local solar conditions, improving thermal comfort and lowering energy demands. The French Scientific and Technical Centre for Building (CSTB) supported the development process, issuing an Experimental Technical Assessment (ATEx) to verify the composite’s suitability for long-term architectural use. The project’s engineering was handled by Lamoureux & Ricciotti Ingénierie, who oversaw structural issues and coordinated the performance criteria for the facade.

The project’s architectural expression builds on Marseille’s Mediterranean identity through a trellis-like cladding system that balances material innovation with contextual sensitivity. The design, visible from classrooms and the surrounding streetscape, produces a dynamic interplay of light and shadow while responding to both visual and environmental requirements. The resulting facade is simultaneously sculptural and performative, integrating natural materials into the public realm without compromise in durability or function.

Flax, as the core material of ampliTex™, presents ecological advantages as a locally grown crop requiring minimal water and chemical inputs. Its mechanical performance enables composite panels to serve structural and environmental roles while remaining significantly lighter than mineral-based alternatives. Bcomp’s expertise in high-performance natural fiber composites, when paired with Temca’s precision manufacturing capabilities, facilitated the translation of material science into architectural construction at an unprecedented scale.

Speaking on the project, Jean-Claude Boudière, Chairman at Temca, stated: “Bcomp’s active collaboration made it possible to industrialise a high-performance flax-based composite. Each of the Temca contacts involved in the facades of the building praised the aesthetic and functional qualities of the parts as well as the ease of assembly on the building.” Paolo Dassi, Industry Manager at Bcomp, added: “To our knowledge, this is the first architectural project of this size featuring natural fibers. It has been an honour to be involved with this innovative use of sustainable composites and it has been amazing to work with Temca on what will surely be an iconic building that exemplifies sustainable architecture and design. Sustainable lightweighting is not just for automotive vehicles!”

The Cité Scolaire Internationale de Jacques Chirac not only meets performance benchmarks but also establishes a precedent in sustainable design, making visible how bio-based composites can operate at the scale of public infrastructure. By integrating ecological materials, cultural context, and advanced engineering, the project redefines what sustainable building systems can achieve in contemporary architecture.