The Triangle as a Figure

Simone Veil Experimental Campus Boulogne-Billancourt, France

Simone Veil Experimental Campus

Boulogne-Billancourt, France

The Triangle as a Figure

Public

2019

Find out more

Status

Completed

Client

Région Ile-de-France et Ile de France Construction durable

Address

Place Jules Guesde, Boulogne-Billancourt, France

Date

2019

Area

10 000 m²

Program (Details)

Scientific High School and Higher Education, Classrooms, Laboratories, Auditorium, Library, Sports Facilities, Dining Hall, Student Lounge, Administration, and Staff Housing

Credits

Photos: Filip Dujardin, Takuji Shimmura

Architect

Mikoü
Interior Architects: Doorzon

Structure

INCET

Fluids

INCET

HQE

Transfaire

Economy

Sletec

Others

Artist: Benoit Van Innis
Curtain design: Chevalier et Masson
Acoustics: LASA

The Trapèze District: A Pioneering Eco-Neighborhood
As one of France’s first eco-neighborhoods, the Trapèze district in Boulogne-Billancourt exemplifies a seamless dialogue between urban life and nature. Overlooking the Seine and embracing the verdant slopes of Sèvres and Meudon, it lies at the heart of the visionary Île Seguin – Rives de Seine redevelopment project.

A Park-City Along the Seine
Envisioned as a “park-city,” this district is meticulously designed to achieve a seamless integration of nature and the built environment. Emphasizing biodiversity, pedestrian pathways, and landscaped promenades, it fosters accessibility, encourages social interaction, and enhances urban transparency.

A Campus Engaged with the Urban Fabric

Situated in proximity to Île Seguin, where cultural dynamism is forging new frontiers, the Simone Veil Experimental Campus emerges as both an academic and research institution and an inclusive cultural hub. Rooted in the historic Place Jules Guesde, it occupies a distinctive triangular site at the confluence of Boulogne’s industrial heritage and its contemporary evolution—where the former Renault factory has ceded its place to a city in the making. This campus embodies a profound physical and symbolic metamorphosis, marking the transition from an era of industry and production to one defined by knowledge, innovation, and technological advancement.

The Renault Pediment: Legacy and Transformation
As the last vestige of the former factory, the Renault Pediment serves as a symbolic cornerstone of this transformation. Thoughtfully restored and elegantly integrated into the project, it firmly anchors the campus within the square while showcasing the French republican motto, rendered by artist Benoît Van Innis.
The architectural composition carefully orchestrates the campus’s diverse functions, fostering fluid spatial and visual connections between the adjacent streets, the inner courtyard, and Place Jules Guesde.

A Palette of Sustainable Materials: Wood, Glass, and Clay Concrete

The design seeks to dissolve boundaries, establishing a campus that is both permeable and seamlessly integrated with its surroundings. Versatility and adaptability define the ground floor, conceived as an open and inclusive space catering to both students and the wider community.
Guided by principles of transparency, porosity, and natural light, the building is elevated on stilts, creating a fluid connection with the public realm while framing unobstructed sightlines toward the inner courtyard and Place Jules Guesde. At its core, a double-height entrance hall serves as a unifying axis, linking the amphitheater, foyer, sports facilities, and restaurant. This configuration transforms the campus into a dynamic nexus of interaction, fostering engagement and exchange at the heart of the district.

The predominantly glazed facades create a refined and abstract composition, where printed and enameled glass panels rest upon a pleated base of colored concrete, playing with light and reflections. This dynamic interplay enhances the building’s visual depth while anchoring it within its urban context. Inside, raw concrete contrasts with softer, more tactile materials, introducing warmth and a sense of intimacy. Intricate wood marquetry intertwines with vibrantly glazed bricks, while translucent curtains subtly reference the iconic blue workwear of Renault factory workers. The quartz terrazzo flooring and African wood paneling further enrich this delicate fusion of past and present. More than just an architectural statement, the Simone Veil Campus embodies transition and transformation—a place where history and innovation converge, offering a space for exchange, reflection, and the promise of a forward-looking future.