Joséphine Baker Student Residence by Ateliers A+ & Atelier Métis

Nestled within a striking alpine landscape, the Joséphine Baker Student Residence establishes a close relationship with its natural surroundings, integrating 506 student apartments into the campus environment while respecting the site’s topography and vegetation. The design preserves existing lime trees and enriches them with new plantings, extending the campus’s green fabric and fostering a sense of calm and connection. Pathways and landscaped courtyards create gentle transitions between built and natural spaces, encouraging students to engage with the outdoors while promoting pedestrian mobility across the site. Orienting the building to maximize views of the Chartreuse, Belledonne, and Vercors mountain ranges ensures that the spectacular scenery is a constant companion, framing daily life and anchoring the residence within its unique alpine context.

Architectural Concept and Spatial Organization

The project’s design is defined by a precise geometric composition and a bioclimatic approach. Volumes are assertive yet carefully articulated to interact harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. Elevated on pilotis, the building addresses the site’s occasional flooding while creating transparency on the ground level, allowing light, air, and visual continuity to flow beneath the structure. Slightly inclined posts enhance vertical rhythm and contribute a sense of lightness to the block. Central courtyards and soft pathways organize circulation, connecting communal areas, apartments, and outdoor spaces. This careful arrangement fosters both private retreat and social interaction, reinforcing a strong sense of community while maintaining intimacy and comfort.

Materiality and Environmental Strategy

Sustainability and material authenticity are central to the residence’s identity. The façades combine stamped concrete with timber cladding, achieving a dialogue between urban precision and natural warmth. Vertical grooves and linear hollows in concrete surfaces capture sunlight and cast dynamic shadows, enlivening the large volumes. Timber continues into interior spaces—lobbies, social areas, co-working spaces, and apartment units—creating continuity between interior and exterior. Bioclimatic strategies, including underfloor heating, careful orientation, and large window openings, enhance comfort while minimizing energy use. The project’s commitment to renewable materials and energy-efficient systems ensures reduced carbon footprint and contributes to a sustainable, long-term living environment.

Living Environment and Community Spaces

The residence is designed for both functionality and social engagement. Apartments are bright, open, and thoughtfully arranged to optimize daylight and panoramic views. Common areas—lobbies, co-working zones, and social rooms—are strategically positioned to animate circulation paths and encourage interaction. Central courtyards act as the nucleus of campus life, providing peaceful outdoor spaces for study, relaxation, or gathering with peers. Generous window openings, designed as “urban windows,” punctuate façades and create visual connections to the surrounding landscape. These features foster an environment where community and individual well-being are seamlessly intertwined, supporting academic life as well as social engagement.

Connection to Nature and Views

From every angle, the residence maintains a strong connection to its alpine surroundings. Apartments feature expansive openings, balconies, and terraces that frame mountain panoramas and invite outdoor living. Landscaped courtyards, green pathways, and planted terraces integrate vegetation into everyday life, enhancing both aesthetic quality and environmental performance. The building’s stepped volumes and careful orientation maximize sunlight while providing shading and natural ventilation. By embedding these elements, the design strengthens the relationship between residents and the surrounding natural environment, creating a holistic living experience that promotes physical and psychological well-being.

Harmony of Form, Function, and Identity

The Joséphine Baker Student Residence exemplifies a refined balance between precise architectural volumes, sustainable materiality, and environmental responsiveness. The interplay of timber, concrete, and green spaces creates a living environment that is at once functional, inviting, and visually compelling. Through its careful articulation, bioclimatic strategies, and integration with the alpine context, the residence establishes a strong identity while promoting community life, comfort, and sustainability. Far beyond a typical student housing project, it offers a thoughtful, immersive, and enduring experience, demonstrating how architecture can harmonize form, function, and nature within a contemporary educational campus.

Photography: Camille Gharbi