Itten + Brechbühl AG / Lausanne, Swiss

Geopolis is the newest building belonging to the University of Lausanne. Designed in a compact cube it unites the faculties for Earth Sciences and the Environment (GSE) and Social and Political Sciences (SSP). This extensive line-up is grouped around four atria which provide daylight to the surrounding rooms. Open connecting walkways between the atria create spatial relationships from one floor to the other. In this way the atria become the focus for encounters and communication. The lower floors of the building serve common activities - here you can find auditoria, a cafeteria and the library while the upper floors are home to offices. The building meets the requirements of the Minergie Eco label. The materials used are simple and strong: concrete, glass, oak parquet flooring, white-painted steel The volume of the compact construction also enables the façade area to be reduced thereby keeping external heat loss to a minimum.