{"id":33266,"date":"2025-10-03T11:00:26","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T09:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/burckhardt.swiss\/project\/college-rousseau-geneva\/"},"modified":"2025-04-03T10:14:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T08:14:17","slug":"college-rousseau-geneva","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/burckhardt.swiss\/en\/project\/college-rousseau-geneva\/","title":{"rendered":"Coll\u00e8ge Rousseau, Geneva"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Coll\u00e8ge Rousseau, Geneva\n <\/h1>\n

Coll\u00e8ge Rousseau, built in 1969, is a large quadrilateral structure laid out around a central courtyard in Italian palazzo style. This building has notable qualities in terms of architecture and cultural heritage, but its poor condition requires both full renovation of its historic structure as well as a major extension to cope with rising pupil numbers. Taking account of these objectives, Burckhardt won the design competition with a proposal based on continuity: a timber-framed additional story and the extension of the existing fa\u00e7ade to the new level. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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\n Client<\/strong>\n

Canton of Geneva, Buildings Office<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Period of time<\/strong>\n

2018-2024<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Task<\/strong>\n

Architecture, competition 1st place<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Photos<\/strong>\n

Olivier Di Giambattista<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Typology<\/strong>\n

Research & Education, Transformation & Renovation<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Office<\/strong>\n

\n Geneva, Schweiz<\/span>\n Lausanne, Schweiz<\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Continuity on the Outside,
<\/strong>Timber Construction Inside
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The heritage-protected Coll\u00e8ge Rousseau in Geneva, built in 1969 by Alain Ritter, is a remarkable example of Brutalism. Not only did the building’s condition require refurbishment, but an extension was also needed to cope with the increased numbers of students. Burckhardt won the architectural design competition in 2018 with a proposal that emphasizes continuity and yet breaks with it: From the outside, the added story extends the existing fa\u00e7ade with its striking relief of finished concrete components in such a way that the addition is only recognizable at second glance. Inside, however, the intervention presents itself as a light and airy wooden construction that exudes a cozy atmosphere. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Reading the Fa\u00e7ade<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Set far back from the road, nestled between sober residential tower blocks to the north and south and a multi-part structure of detached apartment buildings to the east and west, the building asserts a calm presence on the sloping plot. Its most salient characteristics are its stark structure and rectangular shape with a central courtyard. The building’s organization can be made out on the fa\u00e7ade: The administrative offices are housed in the two glazed basement stories. On the floors above, the classrooms project out over the base building as a mineral block. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Light and Airy Rooms<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The new story’s floor plan is the same, but the feeling of space is entirely different: The ceiling height is more generous and the timber structure is deliberately exposed. Two generous skylights bathe the large staircases in daylight. Floor plans and rooms are orientated around these natural light sources. The new ground-level cafeteria manages to capture the openness that architect Alain Ritter had envisaged in his original design. It is a place of socializing and informal learning, not just during breaks. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The wood creates a warm atmosphere that contrasts with the austerity of the concrete.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n