Situated in Mendrisio in the Ticino, these halls of residence were built for the academy of architecture. The project derives its identity from its integration into the specific features of the topography. The two building tracts, set at right angles to the road, were erected on a moraine that slopes down to the north and that forms a flanking element on the third side of the central courtyard. This space is articulated by circulation routes and by the projecting slabs and balustrades of the access balconies at the sides. Reflecting the slope of the site, the two linear dwelling tracts extend out storey by storey at one end to create a direct link between the park-like landscape and the third-floor entrance.