0256
0256CFA Geneva
Planned for a parcel that lies adjacent to the premises of Geneva Airport in the municipality of Le Grand-Saconnex are two new buildings, one for the international police of the Canton of Geneva, the other an asylum centre operated by the Swiss Confederation. A shared pedestal level, which serves mainly to accommodate the car park, forms the base for both buildings. This level skilfully exploits the topography to form an expansive platform that lies on the level of the access road and serves as an arrivals area, disperses the stream of visitors, and can also serve as a space of encounter.
On the lower level, oriented toward the airport, the pedestal level is visible on the facade. Located here is the garden of the asylum centre, the working premises of the international police, parking access, as well as direct access to the grounds of the Geneva Airport. The buildings close off these secure zones from public space. The cube-shaped building with central staircase represents the ideal form for living accommodations. The bedrooms are strung along two parallel facades. In between, much space remains for movement and interaction. The elongated structure, in contrast, with its structure of regular supports, facilitates the maximal exploitation of flexible office occupancy. Envisioned for the facades is a grid of prefabricated concrete elements. While this structure imposes a rigid verticality on the police building and the pedestal zone, the pattern is broken up on the residence for asylum-seekers, resulting in larger, horizontal openings.