built, competition
EPFL GA building
Tender with total contractor, winning project. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) new daycare center
Ecublens, Vaud
2015 - 2018
EPFL GA building
The site occupies a special position at the south-eastern corner of the plots dedicated to EPFL. The project proposes to build along this angle with alignments along the southern and eastern face.
The new building will house a variety of premises, developed on the principle of superimposition. Each floor benefits from its own plan logic, in the manner of a stack. In this way, each typology is
geared to the design without being constrained by the logic of the other floors. This adjustment allows for a layout distribution, giving direct access to the exterior facilities on the same levels. On the ground floor, arranged around a patio with trees, are the day care centre, the crèche, the administration and the cafeteria, while the three nursery units are based on the first floor. The two upper floors host the Science Promotion Service and the EPFL premises. The overlay of the floors is created by a system of concrete slabs and bands protecting the wood-paneled façades from the weather and providing shade during the summer period. The offsets create an emblematic image and identity matching the position of the building on the EPFL site. This stacking principle is also adapted to the requested degree of flexibility: the building can be raised by two levels, continuing the logic of the system used.
site plan
ground floor
floor 1
floor 2
floor 3
Roof
eastern facade
south facade
longitudinal section