Wood and stone block of flats, 10 units of social housing beside the Rhône , Geneva/ Schweiz

 

 

10 units of social housing beside the Rhône

Geneva, Switzerland

 

The project stands in the historic centre of Geneva, on one of the last buildable lots beside the Rhone. This lot, belonging to the canton of Geneva, was ceded to the Fondation Nicolas Bogueret, with the aim of creating social housing in this exceptional location, in the heart of the financial district. The project is located in the protected natural zone running along the Rhone and directly touching a listed building. Thus, a choice was made to implement a structural grid that defines large-dimensioned glazed infills. This initial reading creates an image from afar that resonates with the spirit of the district. The relationship to the street, to the water and the frontality with the public space are opportunities to insert protective panels under the window frames and create variations in the grid pattern on the façade.

 

Building with natural materials affords us an opportunity to question current construction methods in light of environmental and climate-related challenges. The project develops a simple and rational architectural language that combines stone and wood. Thus, the entire vertical structure is composed of solid stone. Two different types of limestone were chosen for their technical characteristics based on the principle of the right stone in the right place. Although stone predominates, it is nevertheless part of a coherent span ensemble along with the carpentry and the locks. The latter elements convey the ambiguous expression of the building. They are treated like industrial materials from current production yet also reproduce classic arrangements.

 

The building basically contains small flats that require efficient distribution. To this end, an exterior walkway runs along the building on the street side. This space, serving as both corridor and balcony, offers possibilities for sharing, co-living, and potential forms of appropriation in a dense area. Each flat, even small, possesses an exterior space facing towards the south and large bay windows that overlook the Rhone and extend the interior space into the wider landscape whilst still guaranteeing its privacy.

 

1 rue de la Coulouvrenière, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland

10 units of social housing and 1 workshop

Fondation Nicolas Bogueret

Architect : Atelier Archiplein 

Construction management : Jérôme Grandchamps

BET Structure : B + S ingénieurs

BET Acoustique : Batj

Invitational competition

Complete mission

1 100 m²

5,5 M€ HT 

Très Haute Performance Énergétique

Competition 2018

Delivery 2023

Grisoni

Pierre de Sireuil 

Career : France Pierre 

© Leo Fabrizio

© Atelier Archiplein