Collège néerlandais, University dormitory in Cité internationale universitaire, Paris, France.
The Collège néerlandais is a university residence in the Cité internationale universitaire, defined by geometric volumes, horizontal facades, and rows of strip windows. A central patio distributes natural light throughout the building and provides space for outdoor activity.
Construction began in 1928 and the building opened in 1938, funded as a memorial following a loss during World War I. The residence was part of a broader movement to develop new types of student housing in Paris during that period.
The residence brings together students from many different countries, creating a living space for international exchange within the academic community of the Cité. Shared kitchens and common areas become natural meeting points where people from different backgrounds interact daily.
The building contains around 140 rooms and several communal spaces including study areas, shared kitchens, and rooftop terraces. The entire Cité internationale universitaire campus is large and best explored on foot to appreciate the different residences.
This is the only work in France by Dutch architect Willem Marinus Dudok, and it contains an indoor swimming pool decorated with blue mosaic tiles. Such a pool was an uncommon luxury for student housing when the building was completed.
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