The 2020 City of Ecublens Prize for a project carried out at LAST
Hybridization © EPFL / PDM Arthur Montessuit
Arthur Montessuit's master's project, carried out at the Laboratory of Architecture and Sustainable Technologies (LAST), received the City of Ecublens Prize, which was awarded to him during the recent Master's degree graduation ceremony 2020. His work focuses on the concept of hybridization, as a catalyst for functional and social diversity within urban territories in transition.
At a time of ecological transition, considering the concepts of density, mobility, and diversity is essential in urban projects. This is reflected in the search for a functional mix in neighborhoods located near public transport stops. As such, the exploration of new interactions between living, working, service, and amenities spaces can lead to the emergence of new models, the interest of which appears to be growing given the current context.
By addressing issues of flexibility, reversibility, interweaving, teleworking, or third-place, Arthur Montessuit's work highlights that the notion of hybridization can play a role of activator of functional and social diversity. His work made it possible to analyze innovative approaches at the international level, then to develop an architectural project of a multifunctional complex within one of the sectors of the future Praille-Acacias-Vernets district in Geneva.
The follow-up group of this master's project, entitled "Hybridization. A catalyst for functional and social diversity for the Grosselin neighborhood”, consisted of Prof. Emmanuel Rey (supervisor, LAST), Prof. Corentin Fivet (professor, SXL), and Pascal Michon (teaching assistant, LAST).