airbus group inaugurates leadership university campus in toulouse

airbus group is a multinational leading corporation of aerospace and defense- with its headquarters based in leiden, netherlands. on september 19 2016, the airbus group leadership university project was inaugurated by tom enders -chief executive of the corporation- in toulouse bagnac, france. 

the airbus group leadership university campus is designed to bring together top managers for training
all images © philippe chancel

designed by valode & pistre architectes and developed by vp & green, the project is located in the large airport hub of toulouse and features a restaurant as well as training/convention/event centres for members of the corporation. the university campus gives airbus group executives a chance to come together in one central venue. at first, the biggest challenge was to create a complex which reflected both the site scale and cultural identity of the corporation. but in the end, architecture and art successfully combined to offer visitors a lasting impression of their ‘airbus home’- even after only one stay. such an experience is manifested through a dramatic structural design, which provides an artistic character to the aeronautic culture.

the curved facade is brought to life through a unique lighting by yann kerzalé

the striking architecture of the university is first highlighted by its curved facade of large white slats, forming a 360 degrees sculptural structure: the final shape is an abstract reminder of airflow along an aircraft wing. a spacious central garden also echoes the scale of the site, and symbolically gathers different functions in an 80m (diameter) circle surrounded by a gallery. finally, all components of the complex are finished with a special lighting design by yann kerzalé.

bird’s eye view of the central garden

detail showing the bent white slats along the facade

night view of the central garden

the complex as seen from an airplane

main entrance

library space

lighting detail

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edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom