Grand Morillon Scholar Residence / Kengo Kuma & Associates + CCHE

Text description provided by the architects. The Grand Morillon Residence project, which will accommodate future students of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies – IHEID, proposes two buildings connected by a footbridge composed of housing for international students with services totaling 670 beds as well as a set of common areas and activities. A gradual walkway cut into the façade links the buildings from bottom to top. A true meeting place for the occupants, this walkway in wood tones contrasts with the façade entirely clad in aluminum and glass. Along the promenade, there is a shop, workrooms, an auditorium, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a relaxation room.

Sliding shutters of 3.6m make up the metallic façade of the complex and allow the regulation of the luminosity and the privacy of the living spaces. Depending on the time of day and the activities of the students, the façade undergoes a visual change with the shutters open, half-open or closed. The interior spaces use the warmth of wood in contrast with grey and white colors. Integrated into the public areas, the 630 or so student residences are a reduced model of the architectural concept.

With a distinctly Japanese inspiration, these easy-to-live-in apartments are fully equipped in shades of wood and white. Every detail is designed to be sustainable and to optimize the space, such as the bench installed at the foot of the windows, which serves as a seat for the dining table, a relaxing sofa, a storage box, and support for opening and closing the windows and giant shutters.

The rooms. The different types of accommodation are designed to evolve according to the needs of the Institute. The basic unit is the “studio” and is designed for students who appreciate a community lifestyle, which is why it works in conjunction with shared kitchens, strategically located to group fifteen to twenty studios. The “studio plus” is equipped with a private kitchenette and offers an advantage to users seeking more autonomy. The “couple’s apartment” combines two modules, is accessible to people with reduced mobility, and has a living space separate from the sleeping area.

Finally, the “two-room and three-room apartments” are aimed more at families and can also be occupied by students sharing a common living space. All the apartments are designed and arranged to optimize the available space as much as possible. Finally, these units are equipped with a bench against the facade to act as a space of relation between the interior and the exterior, while integrating storage lockers.

Visual identity and signage. The design department was mandated to create the visual identity and signage for this unusual project. The goal was to provide a respectful and integrated response to the site while guaranteeing the needs of its users in a qualitative and anticipatory manner. The proposed system was based on our support to the project owner in the definition of all the appellations necessary for the proper functioning of the site and its understanding: it stems from our findings and our bias, aiming to simplify the information network as much as possible.