Housing on Avenue Wendt – Geneva
Year
2023 - 2025
Owner of the project
Vaudoise Vie, Compagnie d'assurances SA
Architects
Clavien & Associés
THE CHALLENGE
Located in a densely urbanized area of Geneva, the residential building on Avenue Wendt had an aging structure, high energy consumption, and did not comply with current seismic and fire safety standards. The project aimed to renovate 38 residential units, incorporate 2 commercial arcades, and optimize the overall building to meet contemporary standards of comfort, safety, and sustainability. The major challenge lay in the complexity of working on an existing building while maintaining a minimal carbon footprint and adhering to the constraints of a construction site in an urban environment.
OUR RESPONSE
As civil engineers commissioned for this project, we developed an intervention strategy focused on maximizing the preservation of existing load-bearing elements, particularly the slabs and interior walls. This approach allowed us to significantly reduce the environmental impact of the transformation, saving 273 tons of CO₂ in embodied energy – the equivalent of 128 Geneva–New York flights, compared to a complete demolition followed by the reconstruction of a new building. We designed and sized custom structural reinforcements to ensure the stability and safety of the building, while incorporating a controlled extension that complies with seismic standards. This work was recognized with the 2nd prize at the Swiss Real Estate Award in the "Sustainability" category. A SIA (Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects) visit will be organized to share the technical insights of this achievement. This project is the result of close collaboration between the architecture team, the general contractor, and our office, made possible by the trust and active involvement of the project owner.
