Inauguration

The Maison des étudiants de la francophonie was inaugurated on the 30th of November 2021 in the presence of Jean-Baptiste Lemoybe, Secretary of State to the Minister of Europe and foreign affairs charged with tourism, French citizens living abroad and French-speaking countries, Slim Khalbous, Rector of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie and Jean-Marc Sauvé, President of the Fondation nationale, Cité internationale universitaire de Paris, honorary Vice President of the state council.

Through its partnership with the Cité internationale, the Agence Universitaire de la Francophone offers students and young researchers from its 1000 members the possibility of realising their mobility within an exceptional framework.

 

Professor Slim Khalbous, rector of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie

Promoting the French language

On the 20th of March 2018 the president of the republic, Emmanuel Macron, unveiled his plan for the promotion of the French language to the Institut de France. On this occasion, he announced the creation of a Maison des étudiants de la francophonie at the Cité internationale universiatire de Paris. This project translates the common desire of the French state and the Cité internationale to promote the French language by reinforcing the academic and scientific cooperation of French-speaking countries by increasing the number of rooms intended for French-speaking students and researchers. This project is resolutely aimed at young people by aims to showcase the talents of French-speaking countries by opening doors to the best higher education establishments in Île-de-France. The building has 300 studios, 150 of which are available to the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie within a partnership. Concerning its cultural programme, the building also promotes cultural productions about the French language. Since its creation in 1925, the Cité internationale places promotion of the French language at the heart of its project. Amongst its famous former French-speaking residents are Léopold Sédar Senghor, Habib Bourguiba and Abdou Diouf.

An eco-responsible building

The building obtained its NF Habitat HQE certificate and Effinergie + label. Several elements were also taken into account to obtain this certificate such as functionality, excellent acoustics, ambient air quality and natural light. The energy efficiency of Effinergie + was achieved thanks to the production of hot water by 100% renewable energy. The system has a heating pump that is installed in the basement that extracts the calories from used domestic water to heat the water.

A silhouette on the bow

The Cité internationale has chosen Demathieu Bard Immobilier to construct the building. The design was entrusted to Baumschlager Eberle Architectes. The project’s main idea was to create a sculptural and moving residence at the far south-east section of the campus on a plot of land that was also welcoming two new buildings: the pavillon Bourguiba of the Maison de Tunisie and the House of China. The building is designed to have a very pure, rectangular volume that is marked by a fold, a projection and a fault at the far south of the east façade and at the far north of the west façade. The very ordered playing with the bays, that fit into the module’s repetition made of prefabricated light grey sanded concrete, create a uniquely powerful and precious object in the sky, in keeping with the tradition of the campus’s architectural objects.

The building’s concept rests on the elementary methods of architecture: geometry, light, materials. We combine concrete and wood, bio-sourced materials. These hard and soft, dark and light materials complement each other.

 

Anne Speicher, architect, director of Baumschlager Eberle Architectes France.
The union of concrete and wood

The building combines concrete, the dominant material, and wood. The natural stained larch woodwork and the large skylights, also in the larch in front of the upstairs lounges, give the façade a warm tone. These elements provide a vertical pattern that adds additional movement to the façade. 

Comfort and light

The rooms’ orientation is such that it reduces the noise pollution and allows them to profit from natural light. The flexible living spaces are equipped with a kitchenette and furniture that is designed specifically for the space and the occupants’ needs.

Living together

In order to promote exchanges between residents, the house has several communal areas: a foyer bar, study room and music room, multipurpose space and an upstairs lounge.

The accommodation and services of the Maison des étudiants de la francophonie in detail

The Maison des étudiants de la francophonie, offers 300 studios and collective living spaces: foyer bar, study room, music room, multipurpose space.

Visit the Maison des étudiants de la francophonie

Want to visit the Maison des étudiants de la francophonie? Guided tours allow you to discover the campus’s exceptional heritage.