A major transit route in Geneva, avenue Pictet-de-Rochemont is lined with old-fashioned buildings.
Situation
In the area defined by this road and the intersection of rue de la Terrassière and av. de Frontenex, two adjoining buildings, nos. 16 and 18, were awaiting demolition, with a view to extending the neighbouring shopping center.
No. 16 was rented despite its notorious lack of comfort. Its neighbor, no. 18, had been suffering from squatters for many months and was in an advanced state of disrepair. This potentially dangerous situation led the owner to undertake the renovation of the buildings, with a view to making them habitable in conditions of standard comfort.
Program
Major renovations and redistribution of certain volumes. Apart from the need to carry out work to guarantee safety, the program aims to improve general comfort, while maintaining the architectural qualities of the buildings and their original character.
Particular attention is therefore paid to preserving the interesting features that still remain in the buildings, such as the ceiling roses or the oak windows in the kitchens, restored to bring them back to life without altering their traditional character. The venerable buildings are now equipped with bathrooms, previously non-existent, and individual gas heating to replace the mobile electric radiators or kerosene heaters used by the residents.
These measures also made it possible to integrate domestic hot water, install a separate drainage system right up to the property line, and completely overhaul the electrical network. Finally, mechanical ventilation is now installed in the WCs and kitchens.
The renovation, which was carried out while keeping most of the tenants on site, by temporary relocation to available premises as work progressed, also led to structural consolidation work, notably during the intervention at no. 18.
The latter, characterized by the adoption of a new apartment typology on the third and fourth floors, was accompanied by constructive measures to ensure a good static configuration, following the discovery of certain load-bearing elements that were no longer able to fulfil their role correctly.
These floors now feature two apartments each, instead of the original three, and a laundry room has been installed in the attic.
The entire building envelope has also been refurbished: roofs (at no. 16, Bardonnex “pétrin” tile replaces fake slate), façades insulated to meet current quality and comfort standards, windows fitted with soundproof glass and modern blinds with wooden mantling (reconstituted according to the original model), all contribute to the restoration of quality volumes.
© Rainer Sohlban
