Sustainable is beautiful
Espace verre © S.Zangger, C. Alhanko | LAST | EPFL 2013
In the framework of the Course "Construction and sustainability" (CCS), the Laboratory of Architecture and Sustainable Technologies (LAST) organized, with the support of the Vaud section of the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA), a competition for the students in architecture. Entitled "Sustainable is beautiful", it focused on the creation of an exhibition stand illustrating the principles of sustainable construction. Developed by 25 students, the projects received were characterized by very diversified approaches. The jury got together on 11th June and finally designed the project « Espace Verre » as winner.
The approach was to create - with a minimum of means - an exhibition space illustrating the principles of sustainability and showing a balanced harmony of the means used, a constructive process control (from vision to demolition) and a creative use of materials with low energy, environmental and economic costs.
Representing as much the academic domain as the professional practice, the jury was composed of Prof. Emmanuel Rey, Dan Bolomey (lecturer), Raphaël Schüll (assistant) and Astrid Dettling, architect, representing the SIA and Sandra Maccagnan, architect, partner of Fournier & Maccagnan in Bex. After a thorough analysis of the propositions, the winners - unanimously elected - are Christophe Alhanko and Simon Zangger for their project « Espace Verre ». A distinction was also awarded to the project "SIB" conceived by Ivan Lopes Ferreira and Ahmed Al-Atwi.
The different projects and the exhibition stand selected for the experimentation will be presented at the start of the next academic year, the winners of the contest being awarded the necessary means for the detailed development and the effective realization of the project during the summer.