The ESSCA Campus project in Aix-en-Provence is characterized by its three built volumes which, together, form a strong architectural signal on the scale of the city and the metropolis. These volumes, orgemporaine.
The northern facades, dressed in large glass walls, are the support for a screen-printed overall fresco, inspired by the work of Paul Cézanne and the Montagne Sainte-Victoire. Thus, echoing the local artistic history, a dialogue with the landscape is established. To the south, the built volumes are extended by large sunshade caps, protecting facades open to the garden and the distance.
The tones used on the facade are those of local stone and ochre, thus reinforcing the integration of the project into its site and the Aix identity.
The architecture is characterized by simple bioclimatic solutions: caps to the south, adjustable sun protection to the east & west, high-performance external thermal insulation, and high inertia. From a construction point of view, the structure is mixed, combining wooden posts and beams on the one hand, and connected concrete sails and slabs on the other.
The layout of the outdoor spaces completes this approach by offering a variety of uses. The mineral forecourt to the north, decorated with Mediterranean vegetation, welcomes pedestrians and cyclists, while to the south, the space opens onto a carefully landscaped and planted garden, promoting both conviviality and the connection with nature.
The ESSCA Campus project is a cornerstone in strengthening the attractiveness of Aix-en-Provence as a major university center, offering a high-quality living and study environment to future students.