From offices to apartments: transformation and renovation of the Normandie AXA building – Geneva
Year
2022 - 2026
Owner of the project
AXA Investment Managers Suisse SA
Architects
Brauen Wälchli Architectes, Lausanne
Tekhne SA, Genève
Total cost
CHF ~ 75 Mio.
The challenge
In the heart of the Champel district, the conversion of the former Winterthur insurance administrative building, built in 1978 and listed as part of the heritage inventory, represented a dual challenge: transforming an office structure into 121 residential units while respecting the original architecture, and integrating a contemporary extension bringing the total to 181 apartments. The project involved a change of use, technical upgrades to meet current standards, seismic strengthening, as well as a reinterpretation of the existing spatial qualities. The extension, built on the footprint of a former parking area, is connected to the main building by a glazed metal footbridge. This ambitious program aimed to balance heritage preservation, architectural innovation, urban densification, and energy performance.
Our response
Our office was commissioned for all services related to earthworks, special foundations, and load-bearing structures in accordance with SIA 103 standards, covering SIA phases 31 to 53. Within the existing building, we implemented tailor-made technical solutions to adapt the original structural framework to its new residential use, while ensuring seismic strengthening and preserving the building’s heritage character. The specific typology—particularly the diagonal articulation between façades and structural grid—required close coordination between architectural constraints and structural performance. For the currently ongoing extension, we designed a contemporary structure meeting Minergie standards, incorporating a functional connection to the main building via a suspended footbridge. This project demonstrates our ability to work on complex structures with high historical and technical value, while supporting their transformation toward new sustainable uses.
Photos : Ariel Huber
