Bastion Saint-Antoine, Geneva, Switzerland

Situation plan

 

 

Located in proximity of one of the gates of the historic city, the Musee d’art et Histoire, the Collège Calvin and numerous historic buildings, the Bastion Saint-Antoine constitutes one of the most important places in Geneva. The archaeological excavations carried out between 2012 and 2015 have enabled the discovery of I century Gallo-Roman remains, a necropolis of more than 300 tombs dated between the IV and XVI century, part of the church of Saint-Laurent and sections of the XVI century fortifications.

 

 

 

Estar Bastion Saint-Antoine Geneva

View of the esplanade of Saint-Antoine, approach

 

 

 

Estar Bastion Saint-Antoine Geneva

Public realm plan

 

 

 

Estar Bastion Saint-Antoine Geneva

Longitudinal section of the esplanade of Saint-Antoine

 

 

 

The competition brief asked for a museum building that enables to expose the ensemble of the archaeological remains in an optimal condition of preservation while offering to both population and visitors a public space of the quality demanded by its important location in the city. The understating of the bastion Saint-Antoine as an open public space entirely accessible is one of the key intentions of the project, being conceived as one large surface as a base where various objects are placed.

 

 

 

Estar Bastion Saint-Antoine Geneva

Cross section

 

 

 

View of the esplanade of Saint-Antoine, canopy

 

 

 

Two geometric groups of trees redefine the entrance to the historic city, a square one establishing a continuity with the existing trees of the adjacent Promenade de Saint-Antoine and a more linear one aligned to the Boulevard Emile-Jacques-Dalcroze. The opening resulting of the geometry of the two groups of trees becomes a gate towards the end of the esplanade and the museum, which emerges in the form of three lanterns which manifest the presence of the archaeological remains to the daily life of the city.

 

 

 

Estar Bastion Saint-Antoine Geneva

Ground floor plan

 

 

 

Estar Bastion Saint-Antoine Geneva

View of the museum lanterns

 

 

 

The lanterns are at the same time urban elements that define the public space and devices that provide access and controlled natural light to the museum, allowing the general public to see specific archaeological content through carefully placed openings. The architectural character of the lanterns is defined by the horizontal composition of stacked concrete elements, the expression of a structural plinth as a public bench and deep opening surrounds framing the openings.

 

 

 

Estar Bastion Saint-Antoine Geneva

Plan of archaeological remains

 

 

 

Estar Bastion Saint-Antoine Geneva

Section through Roman villa lantern

 

 

 

Estar Bastion Saint-Antoine Geneva

Section though renaissance fortifications lantern

 

 

 

Estar Bastion Saint-Antoine Geneva

Section though medieval necropolis lantern

 

 

 

The lower level of the museum is conceived as an extension of the archaeological excavation, a large space where all the rests can be seen together under a single horizontal slab perforated by the three lanterns. A prefabricated concrete path integrating all the technical elements necessary for museography guides the visitor along a peripheral route.

 

 

 

renaissance fortifications

Hall of the archaeological museum

 

 

 

Estar Bastion Saint-Antoine Geneva

Archaeological museum path

 

 

 

Estar Bastion Saint-Antoine Geneva

Skylights above Roman villa and medieval necropolis

 

 

Estar Bastion Saint-Antoine Geneva

View of skylight above medieval necropolis

 

 

 

The precise positioning of each of the three lanterns illuminates with natural light the Roman villa, medieval necropolis and renaissance fortifications. The position of the openings allows for indirect and homogenous light that guarantees the optimal preservation of the archaeological remains and a visual connection with the urban context of the historic city and the public space above.

 

Credits:

International Design Competition: 1st prize

Project title: Bastion Saint-Antoine, mise en valeur du site archéologique et aménagement
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Client: DPBA, Ville de Genève
Architect & landscape architect: Estar, Aurora Armental Ruiz & Stefano Ciurlo Walker
Local architect: Atelier Traces
Collaborators project: Gonçalo Pires, Inês Gomes, Sakura Aoba, Sarah Jo Fisher, Xulio Turnes Vieito
Civil engineer: Kälin & Associés
Building physics: ESTIA
Building Survey: ARCHEOTEC
Surveyor: Buffet Boymond
Heating and ventilation engineer: Ecobuilding
Electrical engineer: Zanetti
Acoustic engineer: Architecture & Acoustique SA
Security engineer: Dinges Consulting
Model photography: Andrés Fraga