Geneva reinvents itself here
A building reinvented in the heart of Geneva, combining apartments, active lofts and commercial spaces in a contemporary, sustainable approach to the city.
The project
Valais 7 reinvents a building in the heart of Geneva, bringing living, working and business together in one place.
The project comprises 57 apartments, 7 active lofts and several commercial spaces, in a contemporary architecture designed to adapt to new ways of using the city.
Natural light, durable materials, outdoor spaces and a mix of uses make for an urban, flexible and connected place to live.
Key points
A mixed-use programme designed to bring together homes, commercial activity and quality of life in the heart of Geneva.
57 apartments
From 1.5 to 5 rooms, with bright spaces, quality materials and, for most, a balcony or outdoor space.
7 active lofts
Hybrid spaces combining a commercial activity and a home at the same address, to make everyday life simpler.
Commercial spaces
Flexible offices, shopfronts, storage units and workspaces, suited to companies, the self-employed and the liberal professions.
All of Geneva close by
Valais 7 enjoys a prime location in the heart of Geneva, between Pâquis, Sécheron, Cornavin and the shores of Lake Geneva. Schools, shops, restaurants, services and public transport are right on the doorstep, while the parks and the lakeside offer a calmer setting just a few minutes away.
1 minSchools & public transport
12 minCornavin railway station on foot
16 minBains des Pâquis on foot
A few minutesPerle du Lac & the shores of Lake Geneva
Close byShops, restaurants and international organisations
Transform rather than rebuild
Valais 7 gives a second life to a 1960s office building by keeping and enhancing its existing structure.
The building has been entirely redesigned, renovated and raised to house new homes, active lofts and commercial spaces.
An ambitious transformation that combines reuse of the existing, contemporary architecture and new urban uses.
History of the building
A building reinvented for new uses
Built in the 1960s as an office building, Valais 7 has now been entirely transformed to house homes, active lofts and commercial spaces.
The project keeps the existing structure, renovates it and adds two storeys. Façades, balconies and openings have been redesigned to bring in more light and create a new relationship with the city.
- 1960Office building
- 2024 - 2026Renovation and extension
- TodayHomes, lofts and workspaces
A transformation designed by Lacroix Chessex
Reinterpreting the existing
Lacroix Chessex is guiding the transformation of Valais 7 with a focus on preserving and enhancing the existing building.
The restructuring, the light vertical extension and the work on façades, materials and volumes give the building a new identity, both contemporary and sustainable.
Sections & architectural plans
Understanding the project
Plans and sections reveal the building's new layout, its vertical extension and the distribution between homes, active lofts and commercial spaces.
Elevation – rear courtyard
Section C01
Section C02
Section C03
A project designed down to the last detail
Valais 7 is based on a complete transformation of the existing building, combining quality of use, sustainable materials, energy performance and attention to the comfort of its future occupants. Every intervention has been designed to adapt the building to new uses while enhancing its structure and identity.
The homes and active lofts offer varied layouts, suited both to living and to hybrid uses.
The orientations and the arrangement of the spaces bring in generous natural light while preserving privacy in a dense urban setting.
Some homes also have balconies or terraces that extend the indoor spaces and add to everyday quality of life.
The volumes are designed to stay open, functional and adaptable to the project's different uses.
Inside, the materials have been chosen for their durability, simplicity and quality of use, with particular attention to their longevity and ease of maintenance.
- Oak parquet Used in the living spaces and homes, it brings warmth and continuity while being compatible with underfloor heating.
- Porcelain stoneware Used in the kitchens and bathrooms for its robustness and ease of maintenance.
- Carefully finished paints & plasters Contemporary finishes on the walls and ceilings complete the project's interior identity.
The façades combine several construction solutions, designed both for thermal performance and for the building's new architectural expression.
They include in particular:
- a prefabricated timber frame;
- wood-fibre insulation;
- ventilated fibre-cement cladding;
- powder-coated aluminium elements;
- carefully crafted metal details.
Triple-glazed wood-aluminium windows contribute to thermal and acoustic comfort.
External solar shading completes the system to better control solar gain.
Balconies, terraces and access ways are designed as true extensions of the indoor spaces.
They open the homes further onto their surroundings while taking account of the site's constraints: urban density, neighbours and infrastructure.
Occasional landscaping, including planters and green areas, also helps improve the immediate surroundings.
The project includes several technical solutions to improve the building's energy efficiency while ensuring the comfort of its users.
- Green roofs Extensive roofs that encourage biodiversity and help retain rainwater.
- Solar thermal & photovoltaics Installations contributing to the building's energy production.
- Reversible heat pump A system providing both heating and cooling for the spaces.
Materials & finishes in pictures
Kitchen
Living room
Bedroom
Duplex
Registrations are open
- Commercial spacesFrom 1 October
- Active loftsFrom 1 October
- ApartmentsFrom 1 November
