When we received a copy of EPFL’s Rolex Learning Center, we could not wait to flip through the sleek white book. Similar to SANAA’s building, the book’s crisp design and elegant composition is a beautiful compilation outlining the entire process of creating the Center, from the competition through construction.
The Learning Center is Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa’s most recently built project. A much needed programmatic space for the EPFL campus, SANAA planned for 10,000 students to be able to gather, study and learn within the structure. Upon viewing the campus plan, it is shocking to see the scale of the building. It covers so much of the ground plane, yet it does not ostentatiously dominate the site. Rather, the undulating curves instantly create a landscape and a texture contrasting the relatively flat campus. The beauty of the building lies in its simplicity and clarity – it is a space that truly creates an atmosphere.
