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Monumental concrete forms define Evolution Design's Square Hsg Learning Center, where sweeping sculptural staircases carve dynamic diagonal vectors through a soaring atrium bathed in diffused natural…

Square Hsg Learning Center by Evolution Design is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Silver A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design Competition Category.


SilverInterior· 2023

Square Hsg Learning Center

by Evolution Design

Client: Evolution Design

Silver A' Design Award Winner in Interior Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #147724

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The Design

About Square Hsg Learning Center

Square is a learning center for a university in Switzerland. The interior is built as an open grid and is based on the idea of unbroken connectivity and multifunctionality. The design covers around 7000 square meters across two upper floors, a ground floor and a basement. Open plan areas are combined with fifteen rooms, a cafeteria and a lounge. A toolbox of movable furniture, presentation equipment, a foldable stage, rugs and plants allows each area to be arranged for the event taking place. Most items are fitted with castor wheels, so they can be moved freely.

The Recognition

About the Silver A' Design Award

Square Hsg Learning Center is a Silver A' Design Award winner, an extraordinarily prestigious recognition granted to top-of-the-line, gorgeous, and impressive designs. Silver winners are tremendously brilliant and exceedingly creative works that illustrate the outstanding expertise, talent, and acuity of their designers. Square Hsg Learning Center is expected to be a wonderful, showpiece work that is remarkably professional and profoundly innovative. This Silver A' Design Award-winning design is a highly notable, admired invention that benefits and advances the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. Square Hsg Learning Center is a vastly envied creation that evokes desires, introduces positive feelings, and sparks amazement and wonderment.

Where to Get It

Human-Centered Interior Design and Architecture Services

We transform spaces into inspiring environments that enhance wellbeing and productivity. Our Swiss studio combines innovative design thinking with comprehensive research to create flexible, future-oriented interiors for workplaces, educational institutions, and commercial spaces.

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Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Built as an open grid, Square is based on the concept of unbroken connectivity and multifunctionality. All spaces can be used for dynamic learning and teaching scenarios – from communication, collaboration and presentations in large groups to concentration and individual work. Most spaces are, therefore, equipped with movable furniture and equipment that perfectly match the requirements of the event taking place and the number of people in attendance.
Dimensions & Packaging
With a total area of around 7000 square meters, Square has two upper floors, a ground floor and a basement.
Tags
SQUARE, HSG, University of St. Gallen (HSG), learning design, learning concept
Production Technology
To accommodate the daily changes in use of space, the interior architects developed a customized toolbox concept – a set of elements like furniture, presentation equipment, a foldable stage, rugs and plants – all of which can be easily combined to create distinctive layouts and atmospheres within the open plaza. To increase the spatial versatility, most items – from chairs and stools to whiteboards, tables and plants – are fitted with castor wheels allowing the items to be moved around freely.
Design Challenge
Our main task was supporting the artistic director’s team in modelling countless learning and event scenarios that can take place in Square and developing a comprehensive scheme of furniture, presentation equipment and architectural elements that would satisfy the current and future uses of the space. Additionally, we also designed the cafeteria and all 15 learning and meeting rooms.
Research
The University of St. Gallen aims to become a symbol of innovation in education and the new learning center is an important step towards achieving this goal. Built as a prototype for the university of the future, Square encourages dialogue between science, society, business, politics and culture. In the largest fundraising campaign in the history of the university, the Hsg Foundation received around 65 million Swiss francs in donations to build Square as well as to support its content development in the initial phase.
Inspiration
Square is an experimental field for new, future-oriented forms of learning and teaching. It was designed not to be just another university campus building, but rather a home to new ideas and concepts, experimentation and debate. The building was designed by Sou Fujimoto, and Evolution Design was commissioned to develop a comprehensive interior and learning concept that enables experimental learning and teaching and to fit out the building and several roof terraces.
Project Duration
The construction of the project started in November 2019 and was completed in November 2021. The interior fit-out project started in June 2021 and was completed in February 2022.
Operation Flow
Square consists of open plan areas – designed as an inspiring journey through the building – and fifteen rooms extended across three floors. The ground floor welcomes visitors with a cafeteria, a lounge, rooms for learning and pop-up events and the main open plaza. This is a bustling space where activities change daily: ranging from events with the participation of external guests to workshops, masterclasses and courses, and students working in groups on their projects.
Team Members
Carolin Michalka
Jessica Mentz
Zhiyang Chiu
Patrik Uihlein
Dariusz Florczak
Stuart Dickens
Image Credits
Image #1: Photographer Peter Wuermli, 2022. Image #2: Gataric Fotografie, 2022. Image #3: Photographer Peter Wuermli, 2022. Image #4: Photographer Peter Wuermli, 2022. Image #5: Photographer Peter Wuermli, 2022.

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Good Design Deserves Great Recognition

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