fuksas: georges freche school of hotel management in montpellier, france

‘georges-freche school of hotel management’ by massimiliano and doriana fuksas in montpellier, france image © moreno maggi

massimiliano and doriana fuksas have inaugurated the georges-freche school of hotel management in montpellier, france. built upon a 3.95 acres lot in the ZAC port marianne area of the region, the horizontal development involves two main buildings connected by footbridges that cross a tree planted central courtyard and includes accommodation for students; housing for management; a gym; and athletic track and sports ground situated outside. students and professors enter the complex through an arch while, an entrance on the opposite side is for clients.

two buildings that form the edifice compose the sculptural mass which encompasses the gym, student’s residence and management. the first structure is comprised of three floors and features a multi-purpose room, exhibition gallery, administrative offices, classrooms, and canteen exits leading towards recreational outdoor areas. the second Y construction has two floors of space dedicated to vocational teaching areas, as well as to the hotel and gastronomic restaurant, a brasserie and a teaching restaurant, a bread-making workshop and a pastry making classroom. these programs showcase the institution’s excellence and are the most important areas of the project.

students and professors enter the complex through an arch image © moreno maggi

the interior designed by the fuksas’ is comprised of areas that are accessible to the public as well as spaces dedicated to the gastronomic sector and hotel. within the entrance hall, a large reception desk which comes in the form of a white lacquered sculptural object mirroring the fluid forms and solid character of the structure, is covered in materials for making boat hulls. within, there is also limited edition furniture made for the hotel. the school walls and those of the student residences are painted in colors, on each floor, from yellow to green, magenta to orange, serving as distinguishing markers of each sector.

the facade of the reinforced concrete framework is covered in 17,000 cases of anodized aluminium in triangular shapes, each one bearing its own specific bar code so that it can be identified for a specific situation. these materials have been adapted in order to adopt the curved and fluid shapes as required by the structure. this metal ‘skin’ is further developed by the application of 5,000 triangular glass frames mounted on metal nets, each one different. photovoltaic panels have been installed on the roof of the first building, as well as on that of the apartments for management.

walkway through the buildings image © moreno maggi

image © moreno maggi

detail of the edifice which is covered in 17,000 anondized aluminium triangles image © moreno maggi

image © moreno maggi

the school walls and those of the student residences are painted in different colors to identify the various programs of the space image © moreno maggi

doriana + massimiliano fuksas (55)