IXCAMPUS - life science hub | Baumschlager Eberle Architekten

Expertise in timber construction and the reinterpretation of building typologies are among the distinctive strengths of Baumschlager Eberle Architects. The IXCAMPUS project in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, represents a synthesis of experimental construction techniques and a conceptual reinterpretation. The competition client, Foncière Château Saint Léger, requested two new buildings: The elongated “Grande Orangerie,” with 8,572 m² of usable floor area, now provides space for research and teaching, while the cross-shaped “Incubateur” (3,102 m² of usable floor area) houses startup companies that manufacture products on-site.

Historically, production facilities have typically been separated from teaching and research facilities; here at IXCAMPUS, they are united in a single location. This reinterpretation of the campus concept for approximately 1,200 people fosters a mutual exchange between theory and practice that benefits all involved. A “cité de sciences” has become a “cité de synergies” that fosters cross-fertilization. Guided by the program’s requirements, Baumschlager Eberle Architects have created a framework combining architecture, timber construction, and landscape design—as an offering for the people on campus.

Right at the entrance, the “Incubateur” sets the tone for the complex. Its cross-shaped wings form a shared edge with the existing structure and the narrow side of the “Grande Orangerie,” which leads into the depths of the site. “Depths” is to be taken literally, as an area has been excavated between the buildings to serve as an agora. If Adolf Loos viewed space as a relationship between things, here at IXCAMPUS it is the relationship between people that is orchestrated by the buildings. Both inside and out, spaces for communication are provided on various levels.

The relationship between people is one essential aspect of the design; the relationship to the surroundings is another. The site presents itself as a landscape park, which Baumschlager Eberle Architects places in dialogue with the buildings under the premise of appropriateness. The vertical slats of the “Grande Orangerie” contrast the linearity and infinity of human labor with the mature tree population, while the sunken Agora makes the building appear lower. The “Incubateur” relies on the structural expressiveness of stacked wooden frames, which replace the principle of seriality with layering in depth. Both façade systems are tailored to the urban layout of the structures and, thanks to their materiality, establish a tactile and visual connection to the wood of the trees. Furthermore, they provide the much-needed shade that we require today more than ever.

Today, wood is undoubtedly a tried-and-true favourite, especially for interior design. Its production and use still offer opportunities for experimentation. At IXCAMPUS, Baumschlager Eberle Architects, in collaboration with the structural engineers at Bollinger+Grohmann, prefabricated wood-frame elements made from French Douglas fir that could be installed quickly, quietly, and cost-effectively while the campus remained in operation. In line with the Passive House standard, the insulation was also implemented in an environmentally friendly manner using wood wool and straw. The longevity of the new buildings is further supported by their structural design. Flexible, multi-purpose spaces make it possible to implement changes in use quickly and cost-effectively.

This proven concept, the new interpretation of the campus idea, and the experimental use of wood in construction were holistically implemented in Saint-Germain-en-Laye by Baumschlager Eberle Architects. Ultimately, this is the project’s particular strength, resulting in a place defined by complex sustainability.