Inteational Geneva’s metamorphosis gathers pace

Colossal amounts of money are being spent on makeovers for many of the inteational organisation headquarters based in Geneva. So what’s changing?

After the recent additions of the stuing Maison de la Paix state-of-the art campus and new World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) conference halls, more building work is underway or expected as part of the vast ‘Jardin des Nations’ cantonal plan to develop the sprawling neighbourhood.

“The amounts of money committed to transformations and renovations are astronomical and there are big infrastructure projects plaed, like the Route des Nations link road and tuel, and the extension of the 15 tram to Grand-Sacoex,” explains Pascal Michel, acting head of the cantonal urban development service responsible for the inteational district.

In all, over CHF2 billion ($2 billion) is being invested in new buildings and major renovations, as well as local transport. A considerable chunk of the finance consists of federal and cantonal loans.

Some 29,500 inteational diplomats and civil servants are based in Geneva, with round 9,500 staff working for the United Nations family. Commuting to work can be a headache. The authorities intend to invest CHF500 million by 2025 in local mobility.

An underground road tuel will be built from the Grand-Sacoex motorway roundabout and exit near the World Health Organization (WHO) (to be completed in 2021). This work will be followed by an extension of the No.15 tram line north of the Place des Nations to Grand-Sacoex and eventually to the town of Feey, just over the border in France.

Meanwhile, a network of paths for pedestrians and cyclists will be built to crisscross the inteational district and local historic buildings and villas belonging to the canton are set to get a facelift. The aim is to encourage the public to discover the little-known district and improve access to the nearby countryside.

Other projects are in gestation. Local officials were relieved to lea recently that the Inteational Telecommunication Union (ITU) plans to stay in Geneva, despite offers from India and the United Arab Emirates. The Swiss authorities have promised to loan CHF150 million to build a new office block to replace a 1960s building. Meanwhile, the ITU is looking into selling its tower that overlooks the Place des Nations square.

A building that forms part of the headquarters of the Inteational Federation of Red Cross and Red Societies is also being demolished and a new office is plaed, funded by Swiss govement loans. The Tour des Feuillantines project, a tower housing inteational organisations and permanent diplomatic missions close to the Place des Nations, has been shelved. In its place, a foundation is seeking to build a classical concert hall on the land and to bring together Geneva music schools scattered across the city.

While Geneva struggles with shortages of apartments and houses, the Jardin des Nations plan does not allow for much new housing, beyond apartment-hotel projects or student accommodation.

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