Transforming Chambésy Station Square and Cottage: A Harmonious Blend of Restoration and Renewal

The rehabilitation of Chambésy station square forms part of a wider renovation project of the railways undertaken by the Swiss Federal Railways (CFF). The intervention seeks to restore a space that had been used as a parking lot and for CFF facilities for fifteen years. The reappropriation of this neglected space is part of the political strategy of promoting soft mobility and encourages residents to use the train. On the edge of the new train station square, the project integrates the renovation of an old cottage building, which becomes part of a spatial sequence connecting the train stop to the historic village. The project is situated in a protected heritage context (4BP) and the recommendations of the Department of Monuments and Sites were taken into account during the design process, leading to specific architectural choices, particularly concerning the quality of the flooring and the intervention on the existing cottage building. Two local aggregates were chosen for the deactivated concrete liner, with bi-colour patterns that reveal the geometry of the land, qualifying the character of the ground. A bench, in tinted concrete, 60 meters long, accompanies the “line of desire” of the pedestrian and contributes to public lighting. Two large tree-lined triangles are planted, also absorbing the public parking spaces within the vegetation. The project uses the vocabulary of orchards, completing the layouts with the planting of trees and perennials. The conservation and renovation of the cottage emphasizes its volumetry and its peculiar position between the station square and the shaded terrace of the restaurant.

This project aims to ensure the preservation of the existing construction elements. After a thorough dismantling and assessment of the reusable structural components, the small building is partially reconstructed with the chosen parts. The solid fir components are incorporated with traditional details, identical to the existing ones. In line with its policy of encouraging local sourcing, the Municipality of Pregny-Chambésy sought to engage the Geneva wood industry and take advantage of the opportunity to use local oak for the construction of the facades and rafters. A collaboration was established from the start of the project with local foresters to guarantee the supply of wood for the construction of the oak facades. The building has no thermal insulation and is designed to resemble a multipurpose kiosk that can accommodate activities open to the public space. The structure of the facade is visible from the inside. Some structural components are deliberately oversized, allowing the structure to be used as shelves.