This ENAC week provides students with the opportunity to apply theoretical structural principles in an applied context through the collaborative design that test structural and material limits. The ENAC week took place in the Blue Factory at EPFL Fribourg.
Inspired by Jean Prouvé’s Maison Tropicale (1949–1952), our Semaine ENAC initiative centered on sustainable design through structural and material experimentation. Utilizing 1.5 mm steel sheets, we investigated strategies for minimizing material consumption, enhancing natural ventilation, and applying principles of circular construction. This work continued the development of a prototype initially conceived in 2020.
Prouvé’s Maison Tropicale was pioneering in its approach to sustainable design, particularly in the context of tropical climates. It incorporated a sophisticated passive ventilation system that harnessed thermal dynamics: heat accumulated on the roof facilitated the upward movement of air, drawing cooler air through wall openings and expelling hot air through the ceiling. The structure also included adjustable sunshades surrounding the veranda, double-skin insulated walls, and sliding doors with circular glass portholes, elements that collectively anticipated contemporary sustainable architectural practices.
This ongoing exploration allowed us to examine how low-tech, adaptable systems can contribute to a new ecology of construction.The concept of sustainability was explored holistically, incorporating the notion of crafts in construction to develop demountable, transformable, and repairable structures. This approach promotes circular thinking and life-cycle awareness, supporting the development of buildings that are light, transformable, and resource-efficient.
Material properties and innovation were central to our investigations. We emphasized the importance of workability, adequacy of means, and the attention to detail that informs both structural performance and architectural expression. Through hands-on processes, students engaged with the tactile and spatial qualities of materials, reinforcing the connection between form, function, and fabrication.
By integrating perspectives from the Global South, we enriched our collective understanding of sustainability and broadened the pedagogical framework of our curriculum. This multidimensional approach encourages innovative, responsible, and inclusive design practices that respond to global challenges through locally rooted, low-tech solutions.
Project Team 2025
Patricia Guaita, Architect and Lecturer, ALICE IA ENAC EPFL
Raffael Baur, Architect and external Lecturer, ENAC EPFL
David Fernández-Ordóñez, Civil Engineer, fib and Lecturer at ENAC SGC EPFL
Invited experts
Alessandro Tellini, Director of the Rapid Architectural Prototyping Laboratory (RAPLAB), ETHZ
Dr. Patrick Valeri, Doctor of Philosophy - EPFL, Project Manager at Dr.Lüchinger+Meyer Bauingenieure AG
Student Assistant
Léa Guillotin
Students
Wiam Airad, Jeanne Benoist, Maëlle Corajoud, Mickael Daâdoucha, Clémentine Denis, Victor Denner, Arthus Duval, Serena Fares, Salomé Gazeau, Florent Gumy, Tiago Lopes, Elio Pahud, Céline Rogger, Helori Saout, Matteo Schaub, Akvile Seleviciute, Iván Serrano Herrero, Amandine Touflan