kengo kuma design for SUPSI, mendrisio, switzerland

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 landscape
image © kengo kuma and associates



long continuous sight line through the sloping structure
image © kengo kuma and associates



image © kengo kuma and associates



study models
image © kengo kuma and associates



interior view of the lobby
image © kengo kuma and associates



ramps and stairs create many half levels that visually communicate with one another
image © kengo kuma and associates



integration with exterior green space
image © kengo kuma and associates



the campus would integrate an overpass bridge into it's design
image © kengo kuma and associates



the proposed building in context
image © kengo kuma and associates



model
image © kengo kuma and associates



image © kengo kuma and associates



image © kengo kuma and associates



elevation
image © kengo kuma and associates



section model
image © 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