The building, which marks a neuralgic point on Geneva's Right Bank, highlights the acute angle formed by
two major axes of the City of Calvin: rue de la Servette and rue de Lyon.
Situation
A typical late-19ᵉ century construction, the building comprises a basement and five levels over first floor.
The latter features large openings, designed to accommodate commercial showcases, and rigorously framed by classic ashlar bonding. The large attic space under a Mansard roof would have been more rational from today’s point of view.
They have been converted to create quality accommodation with a distinctive character, thanks in particular to the possibility of leaving the old beams visible. The program of works aims to improve comfort and maintain the quality of this heritage, taking into account the requirements of the Service des Monuments et Sites.
Project
Renovation of facades, bathrooms and kitchens. The work focuses on the building envelope, and in particular on the façades, which are being completely renovated.
The other part of the program concerns the sanitary facilities and kitchens, which are being completely renovated. Implementing the above objectives entails a number of constraints linked to the building’s urban location.
It results in restricted workspaces and access made difficult by the intensity and volume of traffic on the two lanes adjacent to the building. The work involves nine apartments and two shops.
In addition to work of this nature, there are a number of other items that are essential to guarantee the quality of the work and the operation of the installations.
As a result, it was necessary to work on the technical pathways, in particular on the risers, by reworking the slab passages and vertical alignments. The 4,700 m³ SIA building, with a gross floor area of 1,600 m², now has a well-groomed exterior appearance, with the facade renovation highlighting the quality of the natural stone elements. These also emphasize the windows and corners of the building.
Inside, the comfort of modern technical installations is combined with the cachet of spacious, well-distributed apartments, making for very good quality housing, subject to the drawbacks of an eminently urban location, subject to traffic nuisance.
© Rainer Sohlbank
