The Hive - Campus Grand Parc
In collaboration with Studio SAME architectes, Baumschlager Eberle Architekten have designed a new life sciences incubator dedicated to oncology research at Campus Grand Parc in Villejuif. Located next to the Institut Gustave Roussy (Europe’s leading cancer research centre) the approximately 25,000 m² of gross floor area development is conceived to evolve alongside scientific innovation.
At the core of the design is adaptability. From early-stage startups to established biotechnology companies, the incubator provides flexible office and laboratory environments that can respond to different organisations, growth stages and changing requirements.
Three buildings of varying heights are arranged around a landscaped courtyard, accommodating both office and laboratory environments while enabling seamless adaptation to changing user requirements. As Pierre FLOCH (Baumschlager Eberle Architectes Paris) explains: “The true strength of this building ensemble lies in the immediate reversibility of its spaces, allowing them to adapt seamlessly to a wide range of uses.”
Equally important is the project's contribution to its urban context. Carefully articulated brick façades, generous terraces and landscaped outdoor spaces establish a distinctive identity while encouraging collaboration and well-being. For Anne Speicher (Baumschlager Eberle Architectes Paris) the ambition is “to respond to large urban voids with an architecture that is truly attuned to its context.”
The atrium forms the vibrant heart of the ensemble, connecting all three buildings and the Innovation Center. Designed to blur the boundaries between inside and outside, it creates a welcoming space where researchers, scientists and innovators meet, exchange ideas and foster collaboration.
