A campus in the forest

The unique slogan of the HEC Paris campus is “Learning in a forest.” The current campus site occupies virtually the entire vast, wooded estate of the Château de Jouy. The site is divided three ways into a valley, wooded hillside, and high plateau. Our design reimagines and enhances this structure, amplifying the forest environment of the two main sections of campus (Upper Campus and Lower Campus). Groves of young, native trees are planted throughout the site. These miniature forests, scaled to size, frame landscape scenes comprising six distinct environments. A mosaic of flowering meadows blankets the entrance landscape, guiding users toward the new Campus Heart. This broad pedestrian promenade, once a path for hunting parties, connects users to numerous gardens. The gardens form outdoor “rooms,” offering new spaces for meeting and exchange. Further along the extended promenade sits the event lawn, a clearly defined meadow offering an adaptable, multi-use space perfect for daily activities and large student events alike. Our design creates a landscape that supports and grows alongside the school and its users, helping all to better move through and experience campus life.