Massive Stone Hermance

Local resources exploration combines with heritage identity

finalist – selected competition

Location | Hermance (GE) Switzerland • Client | Hermance municipality • Type | New construction Collective dwelling Public infrastructure Public parc • Construction period | 2022 • Surface area | 1 390 m²

The exploration of local resources, combined with the heritage identity of the town, leads us to the use of structural stone on the facade. The limited availability of Salève stone—restricted to rockfill and rubble—necessitates a specific construction method to enable its use. Here, the project does not involve traditional ashlar masonry, but rather cyclopean concrete: an aggregation of uncut stones and poured lime mortar.