A circle in a square

“Switzerland, Geneva, Zurich”—these three definitions always bring a world-class industry to mind. Geneva, in particular, is the birthplace of many famous watches, with countless shops to stroll through, from Patek Philippe to Rolex. If the color of shopping starts to fade, we would like to invite our dear readers to visit the neighboring city of Lausanne. Besides being known as a city of memories for the young royals of the Mahidol family, it also features intriguing architecture—perhaps what could be called a gift from Rolex to Switzerland, one that offers not only revenue but also education.
The Rolex Learning Center is located at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, also known as EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne), situated not far from Lake Geneva.
SANAA (Kazuyo Sejima, Ryue Nishizawa) were the winners of this design competition. It was quite a spectacle for Asian architects from Japan to design across continents in 2010. “White architecture, without boundaries” is perhaps a good definition of the designers' work.
The building is designed to have connected internal spaces, free from the square partitioned rooms we are familiar with, to serve as a research center and library for students while remaining open to the general public. More than 20,000 square meters of space are connected, yet it is not merely a single-plane design; parts of the floor are sloped to create zoning, effectively acting as rooms for different functions, while simultaneously providing space for people to walk underneath.
Organic architecture—architecture that lives in harmony with nature—is a perfect description for this building. Through the use of simple, uncomplicated lines that are the hallmark of the designers, the floor plan—though seemingly square—contrasts with the flowing, interconnected space. However, circular voids are meticulously placed throughout the plan. These voids serve to bring light into the building, reducing the need for artificial lighting, and provide views of the environment from every angle, including some circular glass rooms where users can see activities taking place from all directions.

The Rolex Learning Center is considered a collaboration between the public sector and a key business entity in the country, Rolex, to promote a place for learning and human resource development in science and microtechnology—a long-term investment aimed at the development of watchmaking technology in the future.
 

Rolex learning center
Opening Hours: Open daily, 7:00-24:00
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/M9RRiRXdemHPNviB9
 

 

 

 

 

 
References
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolex_Learning_Center
: https://arcspace.com/feature/rolex-learning-center/
: https://www.dezeen.com/2010/02/17/rolex-learning-center-by-sanaa/
: https://www.epfl.ch/campus/visitors/buildings/rolex-learning-center/
: https://www.archdaily.com/53536/rolex-learning-center-sanaa-by-iwan-baan
: http://63.210.45.50/site/about/kazuyo-sejima-and-ryue-nishizawa-thomas-jefferson-foundation-medalists-architecture

Illustrations
: https://www.scholarship.in.th/10-master-scholarships-study-in-switzerland/
: https://www.archdaily.com/53536/rolex-learning-center-sanaa-by-iwan-baan/5008aca428ba0d50da0016d2-rolex-learning-center-sanaa-by-iwan-baan-photo?next_project=no
: http://63.210.45.50/site/about/kazuyo-sejima-and-ryue-nishizawa-thomas-jefferson-foundation-medalists-architecture
: https://www.archdaily.com/53536/rolex-learning-center-sanaa-by-iwan-baan/5008aca428ba0d50da0016d2-rolex-learning-center-sanaa-by-iwan-baan-photo?next_project=no
: https://pin.it/aj4f7pgmcs2pue
: https://avoidbuilding.tumblr.com/post/19792045058/ae-ther-axonometric-of-the-rolex-learning
: https://elpais.com/diario/2010/02/25/tendencias/1267052401_850215.html
: https://i.pinimg.com/474x/2a/fc/b8/2afcb8b96fcc0e95f620c69cb54c5a2c--learning-spaces-learning-centers.jpg