Condorcet Campus and Library

Paris, France

The Fun Palace, a Catalyst for Creativity

Cultural - Public

2020

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Status

Competition

Client

Établissement public Campus Condorcet

Address

Porte de la Chapelle, Paris, France

Date

2020

Area

15 000 m²

Program (Details)

Student Life Spaces, 500-Seat Amphitheaters, 5,000m² Library, Classrooms, Student Services Area, Administration, Co-working Spaces, Innovation Incubator, Rooftop Gardens

Credits

Mikoü

Architect

Mikoü
Associated architects: Heneghan Peng

Structure

TERREL

Fluids

TERREL

HQE

EODD

Economy

SLETEC

Others

Acoustics: LASA

Rooted in an area undergoing significant transformation, the Condorcet Campus at Porte de la Chapelle asserts itself as a pivotal force in urban regeneration, positioned opposite the burgeoning Chapelle Internationale district to the west of the Gare des Mines – Fillettes site, and integrated within a network of key infrastructures.

A Strategic Position at the Heart of Greater Paris
Located at the intersection of the Northern and Eastern railway lines, the Boulevard Périphérique, and the future Charles de Gaulle Express, its urban setting at the confluence of Boulevard Ney and Avenue de la Porte de la Chapelle places it at the heart of the transformation of Porte de la Chapelle, poised to become a Metropolitan Hub of Greater Paris. In this context, the campus does more than house knowledge—it actively contributes to shaping the city of tomorrow.

The Nave, a Gathering Space Open to the Sky

The campus is accessed through the southern wing, leading into a long, expansive area: the Nave, which serves as the interactive core of the site. Bright, fluid, and interconnected, it links the campus’s key spaces: to the south, the Crous cafeteria and the library, both open to the city; to the north, the student life center of the City of Paris, the reception offices, and the facilities of Paris 1. On either side, two large amphitheaters, with 300 and 500 seats, face each other in a thoughtfully designed spatial arrangement.

A Structural and Spatial Framework on the Scale of the Campus

The design is based on two longitudinal volumes, one to the North and one to the South, which interact through spaces of vibrant connection. Four auditoriums, arranged in a gradual elevation from the ground floor to the third floor, punctuate the architecture. On their rooftops, thematic gardens extend the campus experience upwards, toward the sky.

The Condorcet Campus presents two major urban façades: the South Gate, a prominent urban showcase marking the main entrance from the plaza, and the North Gate, facing the future urban developments of the site. These two faces of the campus are more than mere exteriors; they serve to express its core functions, asserting the presence of knowledge within the city.

The Tiered Auditoriums and Their Green Roofs

Overlooking the Nave, the volumes of the other amphitheaters rise at varying heights, linked by transverse walkways that form an intricate, airy network of exchange and circulation. A central skylight crowns this dynamic space, flooding it with abundant natural light. Removed from the urban bustle, cascading gardens, sheltered by the North and South volumes, provide serene retreats that foster interaction and a sense of community. The roofs of the auditoriums are transformed into outdoor living spaces, designed as pedagogical vegetable gardens. Students engage in a living, sensory cycle:🌿 Recycle → 🌱 Plant → 🍽️ Nourish → 🤝 Share.