Geneva: ecological housing for community life

The cantonal vote of September 28 will decide whether or not to give a boost to the construction of housing in cooperative in the canton, which In account 133, bringing together 12,400 dwellings.

Chance doing things well, we are invited to visit a brand new one that fills with its new inhabitants, La Bistaquette in Plan-les-Ouateswith Léa Pönitz and Maurice Gardiol, members of the board of directors, as well as Caroline Marti, general secretary of the group of Geneva housing cooperatives.

It is that in a good month of the vote, the new district is an entirely found showcase for the environments concerned, even if it should be remembered that each cooperative has its soul and its own practices, sometimes far from those of others.

350 cut oaks

The weather is good when you show up on the spot. The workers are still busy on the third building in the series, but most of them have already moved in. The waiting list to obtain accommodation is complete and registrations for the bistquette are closed. It is in Geneva, we hurry at the gate to find accommodation.

What to think? Visually, the whole makes a good impression. The slide that connects a floor at the top to a terrace also makes you want.

Here, what do we see? It’s original! The balconies, which communicate with each other, are supported by 350 oak trunks, well, we are told, by members of the cooperative themselves. Will they remain open over time? To have. But overall, even if for the facades we have stayed in dull colors, the effect is successful. We are far from blind or unexpressive conceptions often privileged in Geneva.

Later, during the visit, we will discover other details that indicate a work on the atmosphere: in the buildings, even if the walls often remain concrete, the mailboxes are made of wood and the corridors are coated with floors. It is something other than the standard coating of the usual rental.

Reasonable rents

The Bistoquette has 103 dwellings, 253 inhabitants and more than 1000 m² of commercial areas, distributed in three buildings located at the rear of the new district of La Chapelle-les-Sciers in Plan-les-Ouates. The places, specify the statutes of the cooperate, are “removed from real estate speculation”. What does that mean? All possible benefits of the structure must “benefit the development of its projects (interview, living together, new construction, promotion of its activity)”.

Interest is “that by mastering construction costs, by limiting the performance of rents to the necessary, the cooperative provides cooperators affordable housing,” say its promoters. Concretely, the monthly rent of a four -piece is around 1750 francs, and a good part of the households receive subsidies which reduce the charge.

Obviously, to enter the cooperative, you must acquire necessary shares (6000 francs per room for a subsidized, 12,000 for a free rent apartment), which will be its own funds. Over time, with minimal rent increases, we are assured, the case is interesting.

The homes are housed in “N + 2” apartments, that is to say that a couple is entitled to a four-room part, a person with a three rooms, etc. The idea is also to be able to slide from one apartment to another according to the evolution of the number of occupants of the accommodation.

Dream or nightmare?

Another peculiarity of a cooperative: its members can weigh on the functioning of the place. Which can go far enough! Here, the inhabitants have given up for soleil cars, which saved garages. For transport, a mobile type sharing system has been chosen. Another decision is that of the abolition of baths to save water.

By walking overall, we discover parts to rent in the floors, common parts, “resources” where everyone can deposit an instrument sparely used but potentially useful to all, like a drill, a freezer or a raclette necessary.

“From the start,” comments Maurice Gardiol, the idea was to create an eco -responsible and participative structure where the members engage in a habitat project focused on the values of collaboration, appropriation, innovation and participation. ” The Bistoquette is not kidding: a dozen specialized commissions have been created. Orwellian? Bah, one of them, responsible for wastewater treatment, is nicknamed “the big commission”. Humor seems to have kept his rights. It’s a good sign.

Concrete ecology

The ecological intentions of the inhabitants also materialized in the choice of materials or in the wastewater recovery circuit throughout the site. They are purified and filtered by an installation located in the basement of one of the buildings, which includes huge compost tanks and lumbrics … without forgetting the garage space, rented in Infomaniak for the installation of its serverswhose heat is injected into the heating circuit remotely.

We go up by passing by ground floor where a crèche, a large cooperative grocery store, a photo lab, coworking spaces, etc. settle in. On certain floors, outdoor terraces with shaded pergolas have been built. They make you want. The weather is so beautiful. In the distance, the Salève relies lazily on the blue sky. The whole landscape shouts that the time of the aperitif is approaching.

Did you find an error? Please report it to us.

0 comments