The North Wing and Pockets
Edison
Built within the Cité Internationale Universitaire, Pavilion Suisse was the first modern building that was highly innovative in both a technical and aesthetic sense. It was a dormitory for students that provided both privacy and a sense of community spirit, born as a part of Le Corbusier's life-long quest to devise a collective "machine for living". The design of the Swiss Pavilion employed the architect's Five Points of Architecture. The building is elegantly elevated on six beautifully sculpted pilotis that are close to it's center, accentuating the floating effect. The public programme on the ground floor, while bearing an open plan is too controlled by architectural elements such as stairs and furniture. Owing to the structural system of a pillar grid, the facade is freely designed whereby the ribbon windows now become a curtain wall. Last but not least, any visitor to the fourth floor was able to access the rooftop garden, which was for the architect a symbol of mental and physical health.
The addition of the new volumes to the Swiss Pavilion's pure and clean facade offers a contrast between the original and new design.
The Pockets seeks to enhance the sense of community by adding a pantry, discussion rooms and at the same time providing the residents with privacy from the visitors who have access to the existing public communal spaces at the ground level. Meanwhile, the North Wing provides a new room typology to students of the Cité Internationale Universitaire. These are single bedroom units, for newly-wed couples or small families pursuing an education at the University.
This is the painting derived by the superimposition of the floor plans of the Swiss Pavilion.
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