Green Village Geneva: a model of sustainable urban development
At the heart of Geneva's international community, the Green Village is a forward-looking project that promotes sustainable ways of living and working. This innovative concept includes residential buildings, offices, a hotel and a conference centre, all integrated into a green and technologically advanced environment.
The Green Village is an impressive project that embodies the vision of sustainable urban development. Located in the centre of Europe, in the international city of Geneva, the Green Village combines different types of buildings such as flats, offices, a hotel and a conference centre. This multi-purpose use encourages strong interaction between residents, workers and visitors. Technological innovations and integrated spaces offer a high quality of life and encourage soft mobility thanks to easy access to public transport.
Historical integration and modern use
The Green Village surrounds the existing World Ecumenical Centre of the World Council of Churches, built in the 1960s by the Honegger brothers, renowned Geneva architects, and classified as a historical monument by the canton. The WCC, which has been promoting peace and justice throughout the world for over 70 years, encourages dialogue and exchange between different cultures. This heritage is reflected in the architectural concept of the Green Village, which actively supports diversity and meaningful exchange.
Symbolic buildings and innovative concepts
The Green Village buildings are named after cities that have hosted major climate conferences, such as Montreal, Kyoto and Stockholm. This choice of name reinforces the sense of community and underlines the ecological orientation of the project. In total, the Green Village consists of seven buildings that are articulated around the central ecumenical centre and create a well thought-out network of working and living spaces.
Sustainability and environmental protection
A central element of the Green Village is the implementation of the “One Planet Living” philosophy, which is based on the sustainable management of resources and the promotion of biodiversity. The project incorporates global environmental measures such as energy network management, rainwater recovery and the development of natural gardens. These measures not only contribute to the project’s environmental performance, but also create a healthy and pleasant environment for all users.
Mobility solutions for the future
The Green Village’s location is ideal for environmentally-friendly mobility. It is in the immediate vicinity of Geneva airport, the motorway, the railway station and public transport stops. Two urban boulevards, the “Boulevard de Chancy” and the “Boulevard des Abarois”, will structure the new neighbourhoods and facilitate access to them. They will be complemented by green lanes for soft mobility and park-and-ride facilities to encourage transfers to public transport.
Renovation and preservation of historic buildings
The listed Ecumenical Centre will be renovated and extended as part of the project to create state-of-the-art conference facilities and workspaces. The renovation is scheduled to take place over the period 2023-2027 and will preserve the building’s historical significance while adapting it to future requirements.