To Resist is a project that emerges from a fundamental interrogation: is it truly necessary to replace the existing building with a new construction? At first glance, the preservation of certain structures may appear disproportionate, complex, or even romantic. Yet, a thorough analysis of the programmatic requirements for the new facility reveals that, through precise interventions and an economy of means, a compelling proposal can indeed be achieved. By grounding itself in the conservation of the existing structure, the project advances an approach that is simultaneously sustainable and economically sound.
Given that “the construction sector is responsible for approximately one-third of CO₂ emissions in Switzerland, including both direct and indirect emissions linked to the production of materials such as cement and steel” (bafu.admin.ch), the reduction of such emissions becomes an imperative to which all cantons are now actively committed. In Geneva, the city’s policy of “non-demolition” redefines the logic of intervention upon the built fabric. The strategy of preservation, by mobilising a plurality of resources to generate viable forms of habitability, emerges not only as the most virtuous option from an environmental perspective but also as one more attuned to prevailing political dynamics.
Beyond a mere building, this project aspires to articulate a vision of collective life, one in which every actor—human, animal, or vegetal—is recognised as an essential component of the proposal. The relationship between inhabitants, fauna, and flora is treated with care, granting each an equivalent importance within the urban fabric.
The architectural design accentuates the sinuous character of the existing edifice. This morphology is extended through a sequence of bow-windows, fragmenting the perception of the built mass and anchoring it at a scale more closely aligned with the neighbouring houses. These extensions rise to the level of the entrances, offering sheltered thresholds. To the west, a delicate layer of suspended balconies attaches itself to the façade, creating exterior living spaces as natural prolongations of the interiors. The dialogue with the adjoining building is carefully orchestrated, ensuring alignment in both façades and heights.
2025
Location: Versoix, Switzerland
Programme: Housing
Surface: 2672m2
Competition: Last Round
Client: Fondation HBM Jean Dutoit
With: MAR atelier Landscape: Atelier Plum
Images: Studio Punkt