University

Can a building wear two faces, presenting itself with dual fronts and no back? How does it gracefully blend into its surroundings from one angle while commanding attention as a singular force from another? How can opposing elements find harmony within a single structure? These were the inquiries driving the design of the Indoor Sports Arena at KLE Technological University—a quest to reconcile the dichotomies of architecture and landscape, figure and ground, city and campus.

Fontys Hogescholen’s Rachelsmolen Campus in Eindhoven has undergone a transformation from a closed island in the city to an inspiring learning environment. The design team of Barcode Architects, Nudus, Okra landscape architects, and Hollandse Nieuwe was responsible for designing a master plan, the surrounding landscape and the realization of three new education buildings.

At the heart of the urban junction of Sousse, Tunisia, the Polytechnic School of Sousse stands as a symbol of educational progress, subtly blending elements of geographical and urban context into a remarkable architectural design. Designed to accommodate up to 3000 students, this institution sits on a 6800 m² plot, offering a harmonious integration of interior and exterior despite its relative modesty. The central patio, formed by a vast mineral garden, serves as the focal point of the campus, allowing occupants to fully enjoy the outdoor space while fostering social and academic interactions. The corridors, organized around this patio, echo the layout of the great Tunisian medersas, emphasizing the importance of tradition in the design of the establishment.

In August 2023, Natrium, a 32,000 m² lab and research building on Medicinareberget in central Gothenburg, was completed. One of the main ideas behind the building’s design is to simplify interaction and promote collaboration within and between the Faculty of Science’s various departments. Another idea is that the architecture should interact with the Medicinarelängan, which was designed by Klas Anshelm in the 1950s. In the work with Natrium, we have also focused a lot on creating a flexible research building that responds to the changing needs of the academic labs.

The Learning Factory – a private university for Applied Arts and Design – is located in Bologna, Italy, in a complex along the railway that originally housed the early twentieth-century “Ovidio Vignoni” hand-decorated tile company. The spaces, due to their past use linked to the artisan and production sector in the field of hand-decorated tiles, are characterized by large zones with a marked verticality, which the renovation project has maintained and enhanced. Beneath its ripples, the pitched wooden roof creates a covered square with a program open to the various activities of the university.

Marga Klompé Building, designed by Powerhouse Company, is the first college building in Europe to be entirely constructed from solid wood. The new, nearly energy-neutral complex is situated on a plot of land measuring 33 by 33 meters, within the forested campus of Tilburg University. The building accommodates a foyer, 1 auditorium, 13 lecture halls, and self-study spaces for approximately 1,000 students. Its distinctive architecture pays homage to the monumental Cobbenhagen Building on the campus while also serving as a model for the highly sustainable ambitions of university campuses in Europe.

Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is a 3,500-student university in San Diego, California located on a lush coastal campus with landmarks predating the 1800s in the theosophist vernacular. PLNU life is grounded in a strong sense of faith guided by the tenets of personal salvation, a life of service, and the Bible’s primacy. PLNU is also known for its acclaimed science programs and successful medical school placements. Its existing Rohr Science building was 52 years old and the needs of the Chemistry, Biology, Physical, Math, and Computer Science Departments had grown beyond the capacities of that facility.

The new Student Center at Western Michigan University (WMU) is a beacon of inclusion. Located on lands historically occupied by Ojibwe, Odawa and Bodewadmi nations, the building is designed to be a student-centered gathering place that champions belonging and honors the roots of Native American heritage embedded throughout the site.  

Some recognize in its facade the organic shape of a tree, while others, on the contrary, see human figures. Observing the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Mendoza, we can attest that we are in the presence of a building that constitutes a paradigmatic case in the context of the 1960s in Argentina.