CERN is at the cutting edge of technology and research, a place of 'firsts' and incredible discoveries. As such, it deserves to have a world first in public realm, and this was the inspiration for the design of Route de Meyrin – the streets and central square that bind and tie together the existing campus and its disparate collection of buildings and elements.
The CERN campus sits within a dramatic and beautiful landscape setting, defined by the Jura Mountain range which sits to the west of the site. This was a major consideration in the design of the space.
The HASSELL proposal 'de-clutters' the campus and reconstructs the public face of the site. There are two parts to the proposal – reconnecting CERN to its context by planting a small forest (BOIS CERN) and creating a central square which is effectively a clearing in the forest.
The concept of BOIS CERN evolved from the surrounding landscape context. The forest links the unconnected buildings and areas, placing the campus firmly in its setting and turning it into a destination.
The Route de Meyrin is a passage through the forest. A series of clearings in the forest define key spaces along the route and throughout the site. These spaces relate to key CERN buildings and the 2030 master plan vision. The central square is a major feature of the overall design and consists of a combination of east-west paving and an innovative use of sophisticated lighting to create a field of flickering data and a changing array of colours and patterns.
