INNOVATION
Lausanne lays the foundations for its future «Silicon Valley» of the hotel business Last autumn, in an architectural first, the famous Lausanne Hotel School (EHL) asked students to design the campus of tomorrow. The Lausanne institution is set to grow in the years ahead, and this vast project will see its surface area double by 2020. Texte Sylvie Ulmann / Photo Vanina Moreillon
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nstead of calling on experienced architects, early 2013 saw 385 students from 10 architectural colleges worldwide working on the future of EHL. The results of this large-scale brainstorming session were presented in the form of 35 projects to a panel made up of specialists in the fields of architecture, sociology and sustainable development during the three-day «Campus Development Forum» held at EHL in July. Ultimately, four students (one Swiss, one Portuguese, one Asian American and one Spanish) were chosen to handle the next steps. By the end of the year, they will develop the overall plan for the future campus under the supervision of the Lausanne firm Richter-Dahl Rocha Associés architectes SA, which has put in place a structure to involve the successful students. The brief includes accommodation for 650 students, living and socialising areas, sports facilities and a training hotel.
The firm was not chosen to head up this process by chance. «We have experience of large-scale projects,» explains Ignacio Dahl Rocha, one of its founders. Their achievements include Nestlé’s international headquarters in Vevey, EPFL’s Swisstech Convention Centre (CCR), which is currently under construction, and the Beau-Rivage Palace Rotonda. Ignacio Dahl Rocha will also be able to draw on his teaching experience to coach the students, because he is a lecturer at the University of Navarre’s School of Architecture which, incidentally, also took part in the process. «In a context of collective creativity, the architect takes on the role of conductor,» he explains. Underlining the vast amount of work that still needs to be done, he adds that it will be necessary «to synthesise the hundred or so projects we have received, incorporating all of the ideas which have been put forward.» However, the main challenge will be to design buildings which are sufficiently open to adapt to educational changes. «Some of those we design today will be used in ten years’ time. However, the construction will be in stages, which will allow us a certain degree of flexibility.»
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social and leisure aspects, because you generally spend four or five years there.» The students took advantage of the «Campus Development Forum» to underline their desire for social spaces where they can meet up after working all day. «It’s an important aspect, given that this is also where they will create their own networks. Consequently, the flow between the various parts of the campus is a major parameter. For climate 35 projects were presented at the «Campus Development Forum» held at EHL. and dress code reasons, these spaces have to be Indeed, the academic world is changing. «For exam- enclosed. The challenge is to get the dimensions ple, the concept of the professor giving a lecture right.» The large-scale brainstorming creative prohas almost seen its day. Students are increasingly cess may perhaps provide innovative solutions. working in groups. They meet in conference rooms «The participants’ different cultures influenced their where they exist, otherwise in the corridors. The approach. For example, students from India proposed buildings have to be able to adapt, be transformable semi-covered spaces in line with their notion of a and change their function,» points out Ignacio Dahl public space. It’s difficult to achieve in our part of the Rocha. What’s more, he doesn’t think of a campus as world, but it is encouraging us to consider how this a place which «incorporates the academic aspects of type of space and atmosphere might be recreated in student life alone, but as a place which also includes a different climate.»
«The future campus will serve as a global benchmark» Five questions to Michel Rochat, vice-chancellor of Lausanne Hotel School What gave you the idea of getting students to design their future campus? It seemed obvious to ask the actual users to design their future place of study. Did the result throw up any unexpected solutions? Each of the hundred projects suggests something innovative. Some put the emphasis on communal spaces, reducing the size of the bedrooms to 9 m2! Geneva’s Landscaping, Engineering and Architecture University went as far as integrating the campus into the undulating environment by constructing the buildings against artificial hills.
Is the environment an important parameter? It’s fundamental. Especially since we recently joined the Clinton Global Initiative! We fully intend to be at the cutting edge of innovation by testing new things in this field, even if it means taking risks. Could this campus become a benchmark? That’s the aim! It has to stand out internationally in terms of accommodation, flow, sustainable development and adaptation of space. Can we say that it will showcase EHL? It should be symbolic of our know-how and become a place for discovery.