Place Cornavin

Status: 2000 (competition win)
Location: Geneva

Client: City of Geneva
Value: Confidential

 

Our design for Place Cornavin creates a new gateway to the city including a major new public space, urban landscape strategy, transport interchange, retail and cultural centre.

The regeneration of this previously neglected area of the city includes a distinctive 200 metre long glass canopy to mark the new square and provide shelter. The canopy has 500 m² of photovoltaic cells – enough to power 10of the city’s street lights. Rainwater is collected from the canopy roof so that it can be reused to clean the square below. A major transport interchange orchestrates pedestrian, tram, bus and taxi routes, the central railway station and TGV terminal, and includes extensions and alterations to an underground car park.

A new cultural centre and retail facilities were designed to attract people and give life to the new square. An urban landscaping strategy was developed to link open spaces behind the railway station to existing residential areas.

This project for Geneva demonstrates a clear understanding of successful urban design and it was chosen from a shortlist of 17 architectural practices. Revitalising a previously run down district, the scheme aims to connect people to their city and providing a welcoming, safe and sustainable environment.