The Rolex Learning Center, one of the most remarkable and impactful projects by SANAA, one of the world's most renowned architecture firms, has been in operation since 2010. Catching the attention of many individuals interested in design and architecture, the building is part of a university campus. The award-winning design, recipient of the Pritzker Prize, is located in the city of Lausanne, Switzerland.
In this article, we briefly summarized what people are curious about regarding the design of the structure.
The design of the project that emerged as the winner in the competition held in 2004, surpassing names like Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Herzog & de Meuron, and Jean Nouvel, is credited to the famous Japanese architectural firm SANAA. The Rolex Learning Center, designed by the Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, who founded SANAA, is situated on the EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne) campus but serves as a public space open to the city's residents.
Space Organization
The building, constructed between 2007 and 2009, serves as a laboratory, library, and international cultural center for the university's students. Spanning an area of 20 000 m2 the education center seamlessly connects open and enclosed spaces thanks to its fluid form. The innovative design of the structure is complemented by a library housing 500 000 volumes.
EPFL's president, Patrick Aebischer, describes the building as a space that brings together mathematicians, engineers, neuroscientists, fostering the design of technologies that enhance lives while breaking down traditional boundaries between disciplines. He also emphasizes the importance of working in the field of science for the advancement of society and invites the public to the space.
Design
The building, designed as a single space, is situated at the center of the plot of land it occupies, allowing easy access from the surrounding areas. Covering an area of 166.5 m X 121.5 m, the structure settles into the terrain, creating a topographical landscape. The necessity for the building to consist of a single, expansive volume led to the preference for a flexible and curved form. The design, which gives the impression of touching the ground at various points, creates an inclined volume within the interior. In terms of circulation within the building, low-gradient ramps and terraces are used instead of stairs, resulting in valley and plateau-like settlements within the interior.
In the building where spaces with different functions are not separated by walls, all functions are interconnected. The form of the building, allowing the creation of spaces at different heights, enables the coexistence of spaces with different noise levels, such as auditoriums, workspaces, and cafes.
Structural System
The Rolex Learning Center, with its flawless curved and organic form, is made possible through an invisible structural system that combines the floor and roof shells. In the structure, where the two shells take shape parallel to each other, the floor is made of concrete, while the roof is constructed from steel and wood materials. The use of innovative construction techniques in the building allows for the emergence of open spaces around sloped forms located in the central courtyards.
The Rolex Learning Center, designed in a highly unconventional form compared to traditional educational structures, aims to be a center that brings together various disciplines. Therefore, the project features an interior design where functions are interconnected, spreading across a vast area as a single volume. The choice of a curved shell form creates a distinct topography within the project, drawing the interest of anyone fascinated by design.
Resources
https://www.dezeen.com/2010/02/17/rolex-learning-center-by-sanaa/
https://www.arkitektuel.com/rolex-egitim-merkezi/
