Institut des Sciences Moleculaires d'Orsay, Paris

摘要

In trying to explain the design genesis of its new Institut des Sciences Moleculaires d'Orsay (ISMO) in Paris, Dutch firm KAAN Architects' founder Kaas Kaan proves his point by citing a domestic scheme of the firms which is, in plan, its antithesis. Tilburg University's Self Study & Education Centre has a social function and runs all its programme around the perimeter, leaving a central zone, with its sunken auditorium, open for public interaction. But ISMO, merging this French institute's faculties into one entity, is a very different beast altogether. Dedicated to theoretical and practical scientific research, the idea here is that the building's centre is the focus for concentrated study - away from prying eyes - and its south perimeter, with views over a verdant campus, becomes the public forum. And up at roof level, above its central reception and library space, floats the auditorium. Now why is that?