Meyrin, home to the European nuclear research centre CERN, had the long-term vision to prioritise social cohesion and biodiversity in its plans to accommodate an exploding population, the Swiss Heritage Society said on Thursday.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/gw
Português
pt
Cidade anexa à Genebra se destaca em desenvolvimento urbano
The Society praised the former agricultural village bordering the city of Geneva for its transformation into a “large, lively and pleasant community […] in the space of two generations”. Meyrin’s population has grown by 1,200% since 1950.
Host to CERN and a portion of the Geneva Airport, today the municipality is home to 26,000 residents from a whopping 140 different nationalities.
Over time municipal planners have adapted existing buildings to modern needs and favoured public meeting places in rejuvenation plans. One example is the Nouvelle Cité, built in the 1960s as the first satellite city in Switzerland to cope with a growing demand for housing. The complex has undergone sensitive and sustainable renovation works that highlight its original urban design.
The Society also singled out the new eco housing development Les VergersExternal link, created in direct consultation with the community to accommodate up to 3,000 inhabitants. The development is guided by three pillars of sustainability: social cohesion, respect for the environment and economic efficiency.
“Through its actions, [Meyrin] has shown how a municipality can assume its responsibilities towards its population and the environment,” the Society said.
Founded in 1905, the Swiss Heritage Society is focused on “the preservation of important landmarks, the development of the structural environment, and the promotion of good architectural design”. In 2022 it celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Wakker prizeExternal link, given each year to a municipality or organisation for achievements in high-quality urban development.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Swiss town rejects surveillance cameras at train station
This content was published on
Vevey does not want the station area to be monitored by cameras. In a vote held on Sunday, the population rejected a plan to install 44 cameras in the area in order to combat street dealing.
Palestine demo broken up at Israel-Switzerland basketball match
This content was published on
Around 150 pro-Palestine activists tried to force their way into Switzerland's match against Israel at the U-19 World Cup in Lausanne.
Swiss foreign minister: ‘EU was only given what was necessary’
This content was published on
After negotiating hard on the package deal with the European Union and finding a balance, Switzerland gave the EU only what was needed, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on Saturday.
Passenger dies in helicopter crash on Swiss glacier
This content was published on
A helicopter crashed in the Fusshörner region on the Oberaletsch Glacier in canton Valais on Saturday afternoon. The passenger in the helicopter, which was carrying three people, died.
Abbot of Saint-Maurice steps down following sex abuse report
This content was published on
Jean Scarcella has decided to step down as Abbot of Saint-Maurice in the Swiss canton of Valais, the abbey announced on Saturday.
Philipp Matthias Bregy named new president of Centre Party
This content was published on
Valais National Councillor Philipp Matthias Bregy is the new President of the Centre Party. The delegates elected him as the successor to Gerhard Pfister on Saturday in Bern without discussion.
Global call for active neutrality launched from Geneva
This content was published on
A number of players have launched a worldwide appeal for active neutrality in Geneva at a time when the major powers are taking a tougher line. The city is competing with Vienna to attract an international congress on this issue in 2026.
This content was published on
From India to Switzerland, town planner Matias Echanove is a pioneer of participative urbanism, which builds according to the needs of inhabitants.
‘Urban density shouldn’t be a scapegoat for the Covid-19 crisis’
This content was published on
With Covid-19 raising questions about the future of urban areas, a Swiss video game has re-imagined cityscapes to meet public health challenges.
Why most Swiss buildings are environmentally inefficient
This content was published on
Buildings account for about a quarter of annual CO2 emissions in Switzerland. But progress has been slow to do more to save energy.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.