The building

As Swiss writer Paul Budry observed, George Épitaux's building is extraordinary in its sobriety. The edifice avoids ostentatiousness, rather drawing strength through unity. He describes it as a "disciplined mass" united through the action of those working within its walls. The one notable departure from this moderation is the northern tower, reaching skyward like a lighthouse. The paradox of such a sleek building is that while it may appear simple, it requires an immense amount of forethought to execute such pure lines.