(Re)branding the Flon identity: A Swiss Youth Embassy_Flon ... - EPFL

“Designing” the design method
The link that was to be bridged between the urban morphology of Flon and the design of a youth embassy
was to be found directly from the urban organization of Flon itself.
The first thing to realize was the ‘layering’ effect of Flon - as it fits within Lausanne, the Flon district has
evolved over time, slowly acquiring its layers, some not obvious to the common user. Its underground is
composed of two elements: the Flon river (now covered) and the TSOL metro line. Above this, is the platform
itself, built to almost full density, and finally, the level one could call the ‘access’ level that serves as a
link to the rest of the city.
In addition to the vertical study of Flon’s composition, its inner relationships were an integral part in developing
a design method. At first look, Flon’s buildings are extrememly dense. With closer observation and
applying a “positive/negative” analysis schema, one discovers relationships such as intimate plazas, small
interlocking alleys, and buildings that ‘converse’ to one another.
These elements came together to establish the bond between how Flon’s unique compositon could be
reinterpreted into built form. The Youth Embassy, we realized, should integrate, as does Flon, inner relationships
that occur not only betweeen its built volumes, but also the opportunities created between the people
within the building. As Flon, it should be a ‘streetscape’, providing with its program, a different experience
on each level, according to its proper density.
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