A fluid, elliptical glass pavilion designed as the new headquarters for the World Intellectual Property Organization, nestled into the international campus along the shores of Lake Geneva.
WIPO’s established compound along the shores of Lake Geneva houses one of the United Nations’ specialized agencies, serving as the global forum for intellectual property policy. The competition brief called for a new building that could expand the organization’s capacity while respecting the existing campus and its parklike setting. Asymptote’s entry introduces a sweeping elliptical glass volume that complements the existing administration tower while asserting a distinct architectural identity for the organization.
Design
The building’s form is derived from a continuous, curvilinear envelope of glass that wraps around a generous landscaped courtyard at its center. This elliptical geometry creates a fluid, embracing gesture — simultaneously inward-looking toward the garden and outward-facing toward the surrounding Geneva landscape, Lake Geneva, and the distant Alps. The faceted glass facade transitions in opacity and angle, producing a dynamic interplay of reflections and transparency that shifts throughout the day and across seasons.
Program and Experience
At ground level, expansive lobbies with full-height curved glazing dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, connecting staff and visitors directly to the central garden and its glass-domed skylight. The building’s massing accommodates flexible office environments, meeting facilities, and public gathering spaces organized around the courtyard, fostering collaboration and a sense of openness befitting an organization dedicated to global intellectual exchange. A landscaped green roof crowns the structure, integrating the building into its parklike setting and reinforcing WIPO’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
Credits
- Architects: Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture, Phi Barman, Ruth Berktold, Noboru Ota, Stephanie Glatz, Karen Imhoff, Ron Tannenbaum, Peter Stec
