The landscape project aims to enhance the continuity between the Kluster building and the entire campus. The requalification of circulation routes and spatial atmospheres improves the overall connectivity. Pathways are extended to link the various exits of the Kluster building, while new connections emerge through the integration of different spaces. For instance, the event meadow to the east is expanded to include the western end of the Supélec building. Similarly, the Guyonnerie woods are brought into the heart of the building, within the central patio and hall.

The shape of the outdoor spaces draws inspiration from studies on forest fragmentation. A typological similarity links the design of the outdoor spaces of the building to forms derived from studies on the effects of forest fragmentation.

Under the influence of the ecological landscape matrix, the central patio becomes a fragment of the Guyonnerie woods, while the vegetation in the hall replicates a piece of forest.
This forestry strategy, which concentrates all vegetation layers in a limited area—from tall canopies to macrofungal flora—gives rise to islands of regeneration. These islands support the enrichment of local wildlife and enhance the productivity of surrounding woodlands.

The design process starts with a survey of the Guyonnerie woods to identify its ecologically and aesthetically valuable features. These observations are then translated into the patio design. The uniqueness of this environment comes from the dense arrangement of specific elements and the “geometric” composition of natural features, incorporating diagonal and parallel lines. The creative process involves careful observation of the context and forest features, ensuring that the final composition feels both intentional and natural.

Project Data

Project category: Schools and playground
Landscape architecture: Bassinet Turquin Paysage
Collaborators:
Gigon Guyer Architekten, Groupe Synthèse
Bouygues Bâtiment Ile de France PPP
Project location : 48°42’33.0″N 2°10’02.3″E
France, Paris-Saclay university, Gif-sur-Yvette city (91) rue Joliot-Curie, Moulon district
Cost of the works: € 1,100 million excluding tax (excluding buildings)
Design year: 2014
Year Built: 2017
Area: 7000 m2
Client: Ecole Centrale Supélec

Photo Credits: ©Bassinet Turquin Paysage