Geneva municipality wins the Wakker Heritage Prize 2022 – Expat Guide to Switzerland
Meyrin, headquarters of the European nuclear research center CERN, had the long-term vision of prioritizing social cohesion and biodiversity in its plans to accommodate an exploding population, the Swiss Homeland Security said on Thursday.
Society praised the former farming village on the border with the city of Geneva for transforming it into a “large, lively and pleasant community” […] in the space of two generations ”. Meyrin’s population has grown by 1200% since 1950.
As the headquarters of CERN and part of Geneva Airport, the community is now home to 26,000 residents from no less than 140 different nationalities.
Over time, urban planners have adapted existing buildings to modern needs and favored public meeting places in rejuvenation plans. One example is the Nouvelle Cité, which was the first satellite city in Switzerland to be built in the 1960s to meet the growing demand for living space. The complex has undergone a sensitive and sustainable renovation that highlights its original urban design.
The company also highlighted the new eco-housing development Les Vergers, created in direct consultation with the municipality to accommodate up to 3,000 residents. The development is guided by three pillars of sustainability: social cohesion, respect for the environment and economic efficiency.
“By his actions [Meyrin] has shown how a municipality can live up to its responsibility towards its population and the environment, ”the company said.
The Swiss Heritage Protection, founded in 1905, has concentrated on the “preservation of important sights, the development of the built environment and the promotion of good architectural design”. It will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2022that anniversary the Wakker Prize, which is awarded every year to a municipality or organization for achievements in high quality urban development.