IAF Genève

Short description

Change of use in the course of studies. Launched in 2003, the project was the result of an architectural competition set up to create an extension to the WTO (International Trade Organization). The latter subsequently withdrew, preferring a solution that would allow it to regroup all its services on a single site, on the lakefront.

The project

Multifunctional envelope. The building adapts to the site and its environment, taking the template of the neighboring construction to create a unitary whole, while remaining differentiated. The structure has a monolithic glass appearance, from which two distinct volumes emerge to define the public spaces of the project. A long walkway leads to the entrance hall, in an interior courtyard. Two layers of transparent, shimmering glass panels arranged in a random pattern form the visible core of the interior "double skin" facades. The exterior faces of the envelope are made of single glass mounted in elements on thin aluminum frames. The double skin of glass with closed joints on the external faces guarantees a high level of sound insulation: the two layers are separated by a 60 cm gap in which maintenance corridors are located. Interstitial ventilation is ensured by openings in the roof, allowing the adjustment of the intermediate air buffer. The whole system is made of thin and discreet elements, allowing to keep a lightness and transparency effect as perceptible as possible. In terms of energy, the connection to the GLN (Geneva-Lake-Nations) network of the Industrial Services, allows for ecological and economical heating and cooling sources, via nine high performance heat pumps. Equipped with a double-flow ventilation system, the building benefits from a very efficient overall energy efficiency as well as an optimized density of floor surfaces, thanks to the inclusion of all the pipes inside the structures.