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Launch video
Architect Agencies
COSA / RHB Architectes (Associated)
Fabricator
Evoluglass
Product solutions used
SOLEAL windows and sliders, GEODE façades
Photographer
Camille Gharbi
“The decision has been made to award the prize to this project due to its exceptional design. The project thoughtfully utilizes materials like wood and concrete in a balanced and restrained manner, and it stands out as an exemplary model for architecture students by artfully integrating renovation with expansion".
Jury comments
The Architecture school INSA Strasbourg project, designed by COSA and RHB Architectes, involved the restructuring and expansion of the INSA campus to create a dedicated space for architecture training. The project builds upon the original 1960 floor plan, addressing disrupted links from previous extensions and reorganizing the departments to embody INSA's empirical pedagogy. The new building, positioned within the existing campus, is functional, minimalist, and luminous, designed to foster interaction between users and departments while adapting to modern teaching methods.
The four-story structure includes teaching rooms, administrative offices, and six expansive, double-height workshops designed for prototype creation. The building's core is made of concrete, while a prefabricated wooden structure surrounds it. The architectural rhythm mirrors the existing buildings on campus, aligning with their structural goals. Large sliding glass windows on the lower levels, alongside fixed windows on the upper levels, allow for maximum natural light and a seamless connection between interior and exterior spaces.
The implementation of over 200 m² of GEODE curtain walls and 2,000 m² of SOLEAL sliders, fixed, and casement windows. These elements were engineered to meet the architectural challenge of balancing slim profiles with structural rigidity for large spans, achieving a stunning visual effect. The windows provide expansive views and transparency, offering a harmonious relationship between the indoors and outdoors while ensuring the students’ working spaces are flooded with natural light.
The material palette of concrete, wood, aluminum, and glass was chosen with sustainability in mind. The anodized aluminum frames used offer both durability and a polished, reflective finish that plays with the light and complements the building’s wooden structure. The use of efficient materials was central to the architects' approach, prioritizing simplicity, material economy, and functionality in both the design and construction processes.
The architecture school INSA Strasbourg blends seamlessly with its surroundings, creating a space that not only facilitates education but also encourages collaboration and interaction. It stands as a modern, sustainable example of architectural innovation, serving the pedagogical needs of INSA and its students.
