University Campus

The idea of connecting Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori, on Lake Maggiore, was suggested by the intriguing presence of an uninhabited islet called Scoglio della Malghera, located between the first two. An analysis of the lake's topography confirmed that it is not deep between the three islands, which allows the foundations of a building to be laid.

The university functions as a pedestrian bridge, made up of a series of platforms, the perimeter of which refers to the boundaries of Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori. The roof of the building forms a linear public promenade that connects the three islands and also takes on the character of a marina. A series of vertical accesses connect the promenade to the university spaces directly below. The individual and collective workspaces used to run the University are organized along nine courtyards, while the larger classrooms and conference rooms define the compact volumes.

In the center of the building, a larger courtyard (accessible from the public promenade via a generous staircase) - filled with water from the lake and containing the islet, in a symbolic gesture - refers to the idea of a square. A dock opening directly onto it connects the University to the lake shore via a public water transportation system.