Who is responsible for maintaining the quality of the place?

The Tour Opale is an SBB project whose design was chosen in an architectural competition. It is the highly visible symbol of a neighbourhood around the new Chêne-Bourg railway station that is currently undergoing transformation. The 60-metre-high tower has 20 storeys, of which the lower 6 floors will be used for commercial and office space and the upper 14 for private accommodations. The glass façade is fully surrounded by balconies on the residential levels.

Can the place be reached on foot or by bicycle?

Above the new, decked-over Cornavin–Eaux-Vives–Annemasse (CEVA) suburban railway line, the “Voie verte” – or “greenway” – has been laid out for non-motorised traffic. This border-crossing route for pedestrians and cyclists leads directly past the Tour Opale. Thus, residents of the tower can reach the city centre of Chêne-Bourg as well as France on foot, by bike or by suburban railway. For the bicycles, the architects have planned a 190-space parking garage in the base of the tower.

Does the place demonstrate responsible land use?

The maximum permissible height and volume is achieved on the site, which accommodates 101 dwelling units of various sizes. The Tour Opale has been awarded the Minergie label and is built according to DGNB Gold criteria. The building’s most unique feature is its “bioclimatic” envelope consisting of several layers of glass, curtains and interstitial spaces. It enables residents to influence the indoor climate themselves by deciding whether the windows and curtains remain open or closed. This low-tech thermal protection offers an alternative to otherwise customary technical solutions.

Is the place economically viable in the long view?

The municipality of Chêne-Bourg is in a process of transformation. Old commercial warehouses and industrial buildings still stand in the immediate vicinity of the Tour Opale. But the face of the area is changing, and the whole place is becoming more attractive. The French architects Lacaton & Vassal are well-known for their low-cost designs. Their first building in Switzerland, however, did not turn out to be as simple and inexpensive as in France. Nevertheless, the means they employed provide plenty of light, space and views for the building’s users.

Does the place bring different people together?

Although the tower foresees a variety of uses, it does not provide spaces that promote exchange among the residents. But part of the surrounding area is still under construction. Perhaps the “Voie verte”, with its abundant greenery and various seating areas, will bring people together. It is quite conceivable that markets, concerts or other events will one day take place along this green axis.

Was the place thoroughly analysed prior to the intervention?

The new CEVA suburban railway line of the Léman Express connects Geneva in the east with the French town of Annemasse near the border. New centres are emerging around the five new stations. The SBB and the cantonal government have conducted an urban planning study for the area around the Chêne-Bourg station. Based on that, a master plan was drawn up as the basis for developing the neighbourhood’s layout. A two-stage architectural competition for construction site B, which included a high-rise building, followed one year later. The competition was won by the architectural firm Lacaton & Vassal of Paris.

Does the place foster connectedness with nature and the landscape?

The “Voie verte du Grand Genève” has been under construction since 2010 and will be finished in 2026. When completed, the axis for human-powered transport will extend from the French town of Saint-Genis-Pouilly in the west through the city centre of Geneva and then, crossing the border once again, to Bonne in the east. This 38-kilometre-long section, with its many native plants and dry-stone walling, will link social spaces and naturally evolved, landscape spaces. The “Voie verte du Grand Genève” passes alongside the Tour Opale.

Does the place have an atmospheric impact on the beholder?

The tower with its glass façade and silver curtains radiates a cool beauty. The projecting floor slabs of the balconies that surround the tower add rhythm to the height of the building. The façade cantilevers out on two sides. The new building’s height, materials and formal language distinguish it from the existing residential and commercial buildings and make it a symbol of this neighbourhood in transition.