Campus de la Paix

The Campus de la paix extends from Place des Nations to the shores of Lake Geneva, spanning two public parks — Parc Mon Repos and Parc Rigot. Very few academic institutions around the world enjoy such a high-quality working and living environment.

Noteworthy for its architecture, the Campus de la paix is where the Institute’s values are forged. A forum for exchange with the outside world, the Campus projects both the Institute’s identity and a vision for the future:

By being rooted in the heart of International Geneva and open to the public, it exemplifies the notion of its commitment to the society.
By integrating historical villas (Villa Barton and Villa Moynier) and contemporary buildings (Maison de la paix, the Edgar and Danièle de Picciotto Student Residence), it links the past and the present, tradition and modernity.
By embracing green construction, promoting public transport and soft mobility, it links the future to the present.

maison de la paix

Designed by the architect Eric Ott and inaugurated in 2013, Maison de la paix belongs to the Institute and serves as its headquarters. It hosts the Institute’s teaching, research and public event activities, as well as its administrative services.

Maison de la paix is a place for meetings, reflection and action in the field of peace and security and is home to the three Geneva centres supported by the Swiss Confederation: the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.

Contemporary artworks enhance the building’s charm, offering inhabitants and visitors material for discussion and inspiration.

Borne out of a public-private partnership between the Graduate Institute (a private-law foundation), public authorities and donors, Maison de la paix represents Geneva’s and Switzerland’s contributions to the promotion of peace and international cooperation.

Villa Barton

The Villa Barton is named after Alexandra Barton-Peel, who bequeathed the property to the Swiss Confederation in the 1930s. From 1938 to 2013, the Villa Barton stood as the Institute's headquarters, nurturing countless cohorts of students until the move to Maison de la Paix.

Set against the backdrop of a magnificent park on the shores of Lake Geneva, the Domaine Barton, which includes the Villa Barton, an auditorium and four pavilions, has undergone a complete renovation over the past two years.

The renovation, which was completed in 2024, rehabilitates a historic heritage and raises it to the level of quality it deserves, providing an exceptional setting for the Institute's Executive Education programmes, expert meetings and events.

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Rothschild Building

Located near the lake, the Rothschild building is owned by the Institute. Having previously served as the headquarters of the former Graduate Institute of Development Studies, it is now home to various programmes associated with the Institute, such as the Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS), NORRAG and the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

The Edgar and Danièle de Picciotto Student RESIDENCE

“A place to live and to come together, promoting the values of hospitality, exchange of ideas and openness to the world; values dear to the spirit of Geneva.” Edgar de Picciotto

Directly opposite Maison de la paix stands the Edgar and Danièle de Picciotto Student Residence. Designed by architects Lacroix and Chessex, it opened in September 2012 and houses 250 people in 135 living spaces (72 studios, 63 apartments).

The Student House’s construction was made possible thanks to the generous donations from Edgar de Picciotto and his family, as well as from the Loterie Romande.

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Villa Moynier

Villa Moynier is located in Parc Mon Repos, a few hundred metres from Villa Barton. Built between 1846 and 1847, it was the property of Gustave Moynier, the founder and first president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It housed the headquarters of the ICRC from 1933 and 1946.

The villa was renovated thanks to the generous support of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the City of Geneva in 2009. The city granted the use of the Villa to the Institute, and it hosts the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and the Geneva Master in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS), two joint centres with the University of Geneva.

New Student Residence designed by Kengo Kuma

The Institute is building a new student residence designed by the world renowned architect, Kengo Kuma. Located on a hillside in Petit-Saconnex, the residence is just a few minutes’ walk from Maison de la paix and enjoys magnificent views towards Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc.

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