Espace des Inventions
Lausanne
1964, 2000
Michel Magnin
Michel Magnin was a Swiss architect born in 1927. The son of architect Oscar Magnin, he pursued his studies at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) under the renowned architect Jean Tschumi, graduating in 1952. Early in his career, Magnin worked in Finland in the office of Alvar Aalto, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, before returning to Switzerland to establish his practice. Magnin's most notable achievement was the design of the Jardin Nestlé for the Swiss Expo 64 in Lausanne, now known as the Espace des Inventions. In 1972, after a fire destroyed his office in Vufflens-la-Ville, Magnin made the significant decision to leave the field of architecture. He spent the remaining years of his life on his farm in the canton of Fribourg, where he focused on agriculture and rural living. Michel Magnin passed away in 1986.