10 social housing units and a workshop on the Rhône edge
Massive stone & Wood construction Geneva
winner – selective competition - completed
Location | Geneva historical center, Coulouvrenière 1 (GE) Switzerland • Client | Nicolas Bogueret fondation • Civil engineer | B+S • Construction manager | fdmp realization • Type | New construction geo sourced material • Construction period | 2018-2023 • Surface area | 1 300 m² • Program | 10 social housing units 1 workshop • Cost | 5,5 M € • photos | LeoFabrizio & 11h45
Materia Award • Prix Immo
Three elements guided and structured the project. The first is the use of natural materials, stone, and wood for the purpose of sustainable development. The second point is finding the best possible integration of a mode stylized building into this area. Finally, the typologies chosen, in particular the access balcony, are the third main element. Each apartment has a south-facing exterior space and large bay windows that overlook the Rhône and extend the interior space into the wider landscape. The project provides a succession of thresholds leading residents from the street to the Rhône. The building integrates seamlessly in to a former industrial district, marked by long facades, stone moldings, and dark metal work, now repurposed for cultural and public use. Stone buildings, unlike modern materials, age gracefully and carry the passage of time. Visitors often marvel at the texture and coolness of the stone, high lighting its timeless appeal and underscoring the relevance of solid stone construction today.
