:mlzd in Geneva
The office organized a study trip to Geneva to explore the city’s many facets. No sooner had we stepped off the train than we visited the historic “Société de Lecture,” a literary society housed in an elegant 18th-century “Hôtel particulier.” This used to be the residence of the French ambassador when Geneva was still an independent city-state, and thinkers of all kinds—from Cavour to Lenin—used to browse through its library.
Afterward, we toured Le Corbusier’s apartment building “Clarté,” passing by Jorge Luis Borges’s house and the remains of the old city wall. Local residents kindly opened their doors to us and shared stories about life in this unique building.
To turn our attention to contemporary architecture, we then visited the “Cave de Bernex” project by atba architectes, led by Guilhem Douillet, an expert in hemp-clay insulation. He shared his in-depth knowledge of this lesser-known material and its properties compared to hempcrete. Douillet gave us a glimpse into an innovative project in the bustling village of Bernex, which is at the forefront of the densification taking place throughout the canton.
Back in the Old Town, we visited the famous model of the walled city, which is housed in one of Geneva’s oldest buildings, the Maison Tavel. Then we strolled through the area and enjoyed a few drinks and dinner in the Pâquis neighborhood.
"Protestant Rome" revealed its many surprises and rich architectural traditions to us. Many thanks to everyone involved who made this trip such a fantastic experience!
