kengo kuma's design for a two-phase
addition of a mendrisio-based campus to 'la scuola universitaria
professionale della svizzera italiana (SUPSI)',
an institute of
higher education for applied sciences in the italian-speaking region of
switzerland, has been unveiled. in collaboration with local architects
studio d`architettura martino pedrozzi, the proposal seeks to link parts of the city divided by an expansive railway system by overturning the track as a
constraint
on the architecture. a 'skywalk' and large underpass renew the entire
circulation of the existing buildings while connecting the
university
to the city. by keeping access and movement central to the creation of
the architecture, the structure becomes a balance of infrastructure and
artificial
landscape while forging a new typology of an urban building for the
region. the campus will act as a catalyst for future urban development
by
freeing the north side of the site for future projects. formally,
the design has the hallmarks of a ramp, sloped in two directions and
punctured with subtle
gestures of vertical circulation. the building
is made up of narrow nodes that extend over the entire extent of the
site, while the footprint of the building
connects these areas of
program with a sequence of open, public spaces. the main green-covered
promenade creates new standards for sustainable practice,
while a
block-long green wall reinvents the possibilities of urban shade screen.
the building envelope is comprised of thin slabs of stone alternating
with aluminum panels--
its pattern determined by optimal daylight
orientation. the technology of the building provides a very high level
of thermal insulation, with large windows that
provide natural light
to the interiors and solar gain during the winter season. a wealth of
outdoor spaces is bolstered by a smattering of ample
terraces and
shelters positioned in the cool shade of the structure. these open,
circulation-filled plazas also accommodate the university's extensive
public
programming which include an on-campus kindergarten. this mixed
demographic carries into the main space; on the ground floor, there are
classrooms dedicated to continuing education as well as the main
cafeteria, where the large and bright triple height volume looks on to
the outdoor
covered area in front of the laboratories. The latter
glazed space can be completely opened in good weather and animated by
the presence of
students and professors using the open-air seating.
the sloping roof form also creates an exterior inhabitable landscapeimage © kengo kuma and associates
long continuous sight line through the sloping structureimage © kengo kuma and associates
image © kengo kuma and associates
study modelsimage © kengo kuma and associates
interior view of the lobbyimage © kengo kuma and associates
ramps and stairs create many half levels that visually communicate with one anotherimage © kengo kuma and associates
integration with exterior green spaceimage © kengo kuma and associates
the campus would integrate an overpass bridge into it's designimage © kengo kuma and associates
the proposed building in context image © kengo kuma and associates
modelimage © kengo kuma and associates
image © kengo kuma and associates
image © kengo kuma and associates
elevationimage © kengo kuma and associates
section modelimage © kengo kuma and associates
roof plan view
image © kengo kuma and associates
site plan image © kengo kuma and associates
site plan / level -1
floor plan / level 0
floor plan / +3m
floor plan / +6m
floor plan / +10m
floor plan / +13.5m
section
section
section
section
section
elevation
elevation
elevation
(left) circulation linkage to city transport(right) pedestrian access
(left) vehicular circulation
(right) bicycle circulation
(left) program axonometric
(right) high public concentration areas
(left) vertical circulation points
(right) rooftop promenade
project info:
status: competition finalist
principal: kengo kuma
partner: yuki ikeguchi,
design team: marcin sapeta, nayoung kim, anteo taro sanada, kiyoaki takeda, flavia gabriela barrera quintana ,
miguel bispo, bruno marques, laura myllyluoma, hannah taylor, adeline de vrij, sam yul huh, ania popieralska,
local architect: studio d`architettura martino pedrozzi, mendrisio,
team: martino pedrozzi, andrea nardi,
3d team: mir, chihiro isono, junki wakuda, hiroaki saito (kkaa),
civil engineer: furst laffranchi bauingenieure gmbh, wolfwil.
structural engineer: weinmann-energies sa, echallens,
electrical engineer: mab-ingenierie sa, morges
