The Lieu de vie campus hub at the University of Paris-Saclay was opened in January 2016 and formally handed over to the university on May 31, 2016. Designed by architects Gilles Delalex, Yves Moreau and Thomas Wessel-Cessieux from Muoto architects, the Holcim Awards Silver winner for Europe merges economic and aesthetic considerations and turns the limitation of low-cost construction into one of the building’s great strengths.

A multipurpose building to house indoor and outdoor sports facilities, cafés, street terraces and a pedestrian square is taking shape on the new university campus of Paris-Saclay. Designed by architects Gilles Delalex, Yves Moreau and Thomas Wessel-Cessieux from Muoto architects, the Lieu de vie hub building is a low-cost structure that remains highly adaptable to changes to its function and use on the campus in the future. The building is scheduled for completion in March 2016.

A building that will host a mix of activities including indoor and outdoor sports facilities, cafés, street terraces and a pedestrian square on the new university campus of Paris-Saclay received the Holcim Awards Silver. Gilles Delalex, Yves Moreau and Thomas Wessel-Cessieux from Muoto architects (France) have designed a minimal structure that uses rough materials, robust and long-lasting techniques, and vertical stacking to superimpose different activities above one another. The jury acknowledged the minimal deployment of architectural and technical means that is resilient and adaptable to future needs: “The elegant design merges economic and aesthetic considerations in such a way that the low-cost structure turns limitation into a quality”.

The project’s minimal deployment of architectural and technical means was considered a remarkable contribution to sustainable construction by the members of the jury. The elegant design merges economic and aesthetic considerations – a low-cost structure turning a limitation into a quality. The proposed scheme offers a robust framework that is adaptable to future needs – a form of resilient architecture, both in view of its management of resources as well as formal appearance.

The project is a public facility, situated on the new university campus of Paris-Saclay, France which aims to become a top international hub in the innovation economy. The building hosts a mix of activities including indoor and outdoor sports facilities, a restaurant, cafeteria, and various public spaces: a pedestrian square, street terraces, and parking areas for deliveries, bikes, and cars. Conceived as a minimal structure using rough materials, robust and long-lasting techniques, the building is organized vertically with its different activities superimposed on one another, using the roof as a panoramic playground for football and basketball games.