Maison de la Paix Presentation

MAISON DE LA PAIX

Project Manager and Owner >

The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

Project Management >

Philippe Burrin – Pierre Gilliot – Pierre Guth – Nicole Perret

Architect >

Eric Ott, Bureau IPAS, Neuchâtel

General Contractor

The first project, launched in 1994 by the canton of Geneva, aimed to construct several buildings around the Place des Nations in Geneva for the IUHEI, its library and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. The project was ultimately rejected in a public referendum in 1998. The Swiss Confederation, led by the Federal Department of Defence, developed a new proposal in the early 2000s to house the IUHEI and the three centres, identifying land between Chemin

Steiner SA

Rigot and the railway line, using the name “Maison de la paix” for

MINERGIE® Label

the first time. Due to financing difficulties, this second project was

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also abandoned.

Brief history

The third attempt was, however, successful. Under the guidance

The Maison de la paix is the culmination of several projects

of the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs and Charles

launched over the last twenty years in response to concerns and

Kleiber, State Secretary for Education and Research, the project

objectives shared by Swiss federal and cantonal authorities:

was redefined to account for the planned merger of the IUHEI and

Switzerland’s commitment, laid down in a headquarters

IUED and the new institution’s need for space. Unlike previous

agreement with the World Trade Organization, to move the

projects, in which funding and execution were the responsibility of

Graduate Institute’s library, previously located in the basement

public authorities, it was jointly agreed that the new Institute would

of that organisation’s building

take responsibility, own the building and bear the financial risk of

The growing scarcity of classroom and office space for the

operating it. In return the Confederation, along with the canton

IUHEI and the IUED, the two institutes that eventually merged

of Geneva, offered a guarantee on rent payments from the three

in 2008 to form the Graduate Institute

centres in order to secure a bank loan and granted a construction

The need to house three centres dedicated to the civil

subsidy as part of their investment in higher education.

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promotion of peace, established between 1995 and 2000 with

All of these projects had the underlying objective to reinforce

the support of the Swiss Confederation: the Geneva Centre for

International Geneva and increase the Institute’s capacity and

Security Policy, the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control

scope by enhancing synergies with other Confederation-supported

of Armed Forces, and the Geneva International Centre for

institutions.

Humanitarian Demining

Architectural concept The location of the Maison de la paix is exceptional due to its

usage and substantial demand from prospective tenants, the revenue from which would serve the Institute’s development.

situation in the heart of International Geneva, close to Geneva’s

The building’s total gross surface covers 38,000 m2 and is dis-

airport and main railway station, and easily accessible by public

tributed as follows:

transport, road and pedestrian routes.

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The Graduate Institute: 20,000 m2 (53%)

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The centres supported by the Swiss Confederation (DCAF,

In the shape of a triangle, the site sits with its base on Avenue

GCSP, GICHD): 11,000 m2 (29%)

de France, with its tip pointing towards Avenue de la Paix and the UN’s Geneva headquarters at the Palais des Nations.

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ICBL-CMC, Right Livelihood Award Foundation, Interpeace):

Following an international architectural competition, architect

2500 m2 (6%)

Eric Ott (IPAS, Neuchâtel) was selected for the original building form he developed in response to the constraints of the site and the space

Other organisations working on international issues (WBCSD,

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Parking and archives: 4500 m2 (12%) The area reserved for the Institute, aside from administrative

requirements of the Institute. His design folded an elongated rectangular shape (see below) to make contours resembling the petals

space and faculty offices, includes:

of a flower. Starting with the construction workers, “petal” quickly

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The 600-seat Ivan Pictet auditorium, which can be divided into two smaller auditoriums of 400 and 200 seats

became the standard term to describe each part of the building.

The lightness of the building’s volume and shape is even more

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A 100-seat auditorium

apparent with the different petals all resting on a single base,

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The Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Library, covering 4,500 m2 over two levels with 330 workstations

extending from Avenue de France to Avenue de la Paix, that houses the Institute’s library and classrooms. The curved lines of the glass

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9 classrooms and 13 seminar rooms

façades, and the differences in height and roof angle of each petal,

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A cafeteria seating 170, as well as a terrace with 60 places

create a spectacular and elegant structure, which comes to life and evolves as the onlooker moves around it.

The multiplicity of curves inside the building, which does not have a single straight wall, creates original and striking rooms.

Technical characteristics The structure

Most distinctive are the Ivan Pictet auditorium, the spiral staircase

The building consists of partially stressed reinforced concrete

in the atrium of petal 1, the “inter-petal” design, and the curving

slabs set on a tubular structure, braced by slanted cross-shaped

connection between the two levels of the library. Apart from the

beams visible on the façade, and by elevated concrete stairwells

diversity they bring, these spaces give the building a powerful and

at the corners of each petal. The entire structure is anchored in the

harmonious identity, inspiring visitors and workers alike.

ground with bored piles up to 20 metres deep.

The design presented the project’s engineers with many challenges to overcome. At the main entrance, a 21-metre overhang was

Project development

made possible with an arched lattice girder placed in the façade of

The original building permit application included five petals,

the first petal. In the main auditorium, the impressive three-dimen-

with the Institute deferring its decision to build the last part of

sional structure that adorns the ceiling creates unrestricted views

the building. In October 2012, the institute’s Foundation Board

of the stage and replaces six columns, each of which would have

approved the extension with a raised height, as well as the con-

had to support a weight of between 400 and 600 tons. Finally, the

struction of the sixth and final petal. This decision was based on

37-metre clear span, which covers the stairs under the fourth petal,

the project’s significant progress to date, the need to optimise land

required an arched lattice girder in that petal’s façade.

Petal 1, entrance level 3. Gérald SCIBOZ.

Heating – air conditioning – ventilation The Maison de la paix is connected to the Geneva-Lake-Nations (GLN) network, a system that regulates the building’s temperature

Materials and coatings The inside of the building is as visually stunning as the outside, due to Eric Ott’s innovative design and many finishing touches.

with water from Lake Geneva, with no fossil fuel consumption or

Many of the materials and coatings are industrial in nature

carbon monoxide emissions. Offices are heated and cooled with

but are deployed in a different way from their more customary

ceiling-mounted radiating panels, with ventilated air flowing from

usage. Examples include the polished raw aluminium floor panels

the top of the panels down and into the floor. On average, the vol-

in the public areas near Avenue de France, the perforated creased

ume of air is completely refreshed every hour. Several openings let

aluminium sheets that cover the ceiling in these areas as well as

additional air in from outside through the double-layered façade.

the sides of the auditoriums, and the raw concrete ceilings in the

This design is very efficient both in terms of comfort and energy

upper-level offices. These unusual choices for an administrative

consumption, and the building conforms to high environmental

building are particularly striking because of their simplicity and

standards (MINERGIE Label).

elegance; they also cost less than traditional materials and

The auditoriums, classrooms and cafeteria have air conditioning, with an air refresh rate of approximately four volumes per hour, ensuring comfortable temperatures.

The façade The building’s façade is double-layered. The inside layer is equipped with high-performance triple-glazing, which ensures maximum thermal protection, and an automatic window blind system which manages the amount of sunshine in the offices, as well as heat radiated from outside and inside the building. A second

coatings.

To divide various rooms inside the building, the decision was made to use glass exclusively. The Swiss-made glass partitions combine excellent acoustic performance with elegance and finesse. Comparable in price to traditional partitions, they offer a simple and efficient solution to modular and flexible design needs, while highlighting the luminosity and transparency of the architecture.

Signage

double-glazed layer, separated from the first layer by a mainte-

The building’s signage was designed by a group of students

nance walkway, offers an additional acoustic shield and protection

from the Geneva College of Art and Design (HEAD), under the

from railway and city dust.

leadership of Ruedi Baur and Imke Plinta.

Architectural concept Eric Ott.

Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Library.

Gérald SCIBOZ.

Delivery performance

Financial performance

Construction of the Maison de la paix is being delivered on time, with remarkable speed:

As for project delivery schedules, Petals 1 to 4 were delivered within budget due to strict financial management and a constant search to reduce costs in conjunction with general contractor

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December 2008

Steiner SA.

Winner following an international two-phase anonymous architectural competition >

May 2010 Application for building permit

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April 2011

The total cost of the “six-petal“ project, not including the price of the land, is CHF 183 million for 38,000 m2 , an average cost of CHF 4,815 per square metre.

The budget for construction costs, including the sub-contractors’ fees, is CHF 150 million, an average cost of CHF 3,950 per square metre.

Building permit granted >

July 2011 Agreement with general contractor signed; construction site opened

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Institute to move in End of December 2013 Petals 3 and 4 completed >

Public subsidies (Canton and Confederation) of approximately CHF 78 million, as an investment in university infrastructure

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Donations of nearly CHF 35 million (Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, Kathryn W. Davis, the Loterie romande, the Ernst Göhner

September 2013 The base and Petals 1 and 2 are completed, allowing the

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The project is funded by: >

Foundation) >

A bank loan from Credit Suisse This public-private partnership, and the substantial contribution

of donors, has enabled the Institute to construct a building that makes Geneva and Switzerland proud. This successful endeavour was achieved thanks to the architect’s creativity, the project team’s

Autumn 2014

determination, the general contractor’s efficiency, and the hard work

Petals 5 and 6 completed

of suppliers and sub-contractors. All of these partners, selected on a competitive basis, worked exceptionally well together to deliver economic, yet high-quality, solutions.

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