![Student housing in Geneva / Frei Rezakhanlou Architects - Windows, Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5437/338a/c07a/80f8/7c00/0068/newsletter/CUG_2_679%C2%A9pierreboss.jpg?1412903788)
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Architects: Frei Rezakhanlou Architects
- Year: 2013
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Photographs:Pierre Boss
![Student housing in Geneva / Frei Rezakhanlou Architects - Facade, Windows, Handrail](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5437/3403/c07a/80e4/c800/0064/medium_jpg/CUG_8_382%C2%A9pierreboss.jpg?1412903900)
Text description provided by the architects. In accordance with the master plan, the new building defines a central courtyard for the campus. Underground, leisure and sport facilities (multi-purpose hall, music room, playroom, projection room, sauna and squash courts) are built around three sunken patios. This space is directly connected to all the existing buildings making it a place of gathering, encouraging social exchange in the campus.
![Student housing in Geneva / Frei Rezakhanlou Architects - Chair, Glass, Facade, Windows, Handrail](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5437/344e/c07a/80f8/7c00/006e/newsletter/CUG_17_265%C2%A9pierreboss.jpg?1412903994)
The typology of the new building is quite specific to student housing encouraging community spirit without sacrificing privacy.
![Student housing in Geneva / Frei Rezakhanlou Architects - Windows, Glass, Chair](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5437/33b4/c07a/80e4/c800/0062/newsletter/CUG_4_563%C2%A9pierreboss.jpg?1412903828)
The 75 studios and apartments housing 300 students are organised around a central atrium containing the vertical distribution and covered by a mobile glass roof. This space aims to be the catalyst of a richer social life by providing more transparency, more visual contact and places to meet others. Moreover it’s role as a regulator of the interior climate is beneficial and will reduce energy consumption.
![](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5437/3832/c07a/80a7/4a00/007c/newsletter/basament.jpg?1412904975)
The student room is the structural unit of the building. This cell also determines the visual identity of the facades.
Through the glazed interior facades the kitchen/living room and the corridors participate strongly in the communal life. The former is recognised by bow windows and both are furnished with colourful curtains. Each apartment has a balcony on the other side.
![Student housing in Geneva / Frei Rezakhanlou Architects - Facade, Windows](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5437/3457/c07a/80a7/4a00/007b/newsletter/portada_CUG_1_634%C2%A9pierreboss_MAIN.jpg?1412904007)
There is also a kindergarten for 60 kids on the ground floor with a separate entrance from the courtyard.
A modular structure together with prefabricated concrete elements (base floor slabs, facades, bathrooms) allows an affordable rational construction.
![Student housing in Geneva / Frei Rezakhanlou Architects - Facade, Glass, Windows, Handrail](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5437/3411/c07a/80f8/7c00/006c/newsletter/CUG_11_354%C2%A9pierreboss.jpg?1412903927)