Parc Gustave & Léonard Hentsch: The park project is based on an idea designed by the landscape architects Hüsler & Associés. It reflects the aim of uniting people from different social backgrounds at a well-functioning public space suitable for numerous purposes.
The new public Park "Gustave & Léonard Hentsch" is situated half way between the central station and the city airport in Geneva's city centre district "Les Charmilles".
Regarding its location and development history it is worth mentioning that the park property of 3.8 hectares has a long history of different eras. At first, both the car manufactory Piccard with the production of its successful brand Pic Pic (1906 - 1924) and the factory "TAVARO", known from the production of the legendary ELNA sewing machines (1934 - 1995), have left their marks during the industrial age in the city of Geneva. After this era, it was the football club FC Servette and the football stadium "Les Charmilles" which have left their marks, too. Ever since one can remember, football has been closely connected with the banking family Hentsch who have bought the property before the first stadium was built around 1920. At a later time, in 2003, they also managed to buy the adjacent production site of TAVARO.
The inauguration of the new Geneva football stadium in 2003 in Praille Acacias paved the way for the redesign of the five-hectare property. The Hentsch family, main shareholders of the "Hippomène" foundation and property owners, had undertaken to finance a public park for the district in exchange for the rezoning and obtaining the building rights. After its completion, the park was to be offered to the city of Geneva as a gift.
The currently implemented park project is based on two contests with two very different projects. The winning project of 2005 was rejected by the Municipality of Geneva due to high maintenance costs. Five years later a second attempt was started by carrying out a new study with new requirement specifications. It was the project of our landscape architect's office which was awarded the first prize. Furthermore, our project was recommended for further processing and implementation. After a four-year planning and construction period, the park could be inaugurated and officially handed over to the district population and the municipality of Geneva on 15 June 2015.
A new park for an extended district
The new public space gives the deliberate impression of being locked into itself towards the exterior. In the North and South, it is shielded by a four-to-five-metre landfill from the noise emission caused by the main traffic axis of Avenue de Châtelaine and the railway line from Geneva central station to the city airport. On the western side the park is shielded by the new eight-storey and two-hundred-metre-long LMI residential building and in the South-East by a former factory site (The Factory) redesigned into a new loft- residential building called "The Residence. Thus, the existing residential and business district has been extended by 250 new residential units. In the centre of the park, the "Espace-Hippomène", the former 'ELNA factory" building has been converted into a new culture and event centre. The Geneva University of Art and Design (Haute école d'art et de design, Head) has recently started to use part of this centre for lectures.
The central north-south access axis connects the entrance area of Avenue de Châtelaine with the "Voie Verte", the first section of the slow traffic connection of the Agglomeration Geneva-Annemasse realised along the tracks. In the entrance area of the Espace Hippomène the axis is extended towards the central square. A large water course separates the adjacent semi-public terrace area from the public way.
The heart of the new district park is the 0.7-hectare central lawn area, the so-called "Clin d'Oeil" next to the former football grass pitch. "La grande boucle", a peripheral circular route, connects the surrounding buildings with the park and the adjacent districts. The so-called "Playscape" and the "Water Terraces" which are the main attractions of the park are also located directly adjacent to the circular route.
Games and sports
In addition to the existing offerings of the surrounding public spaces, this park particularly focuses on "games and sports". The aim was to create an attractive play and meeting site, including pleasant places to stay and relax for different age groups.
"The main objective of the park is to attract socially mixed target groups. Thus, we designed a park which allows people from all backgrounds to build relationships in a natural environment", say the landscape architects from Hüsler & Associés SA. Hence, all park elements offer numerous meeting opportunities, such as the water terraces, the playground and the hiking trails as well as the promenade leading to the buildings. "The design of the playground located in the heart of the park perfectly reflects our aim by its graphic design which is harmoniously embedded into the landscape as well as the games which allow children of all age groups and physical constitution to interact with each other. In addition, the design aims at attracting sport teams, adults, youngsters and - yes, why not - also senior citizens of the neighbouring senior citizens' and nursing homes.
The playscape
The playground area covers a surface of 1,500 sqm. It is integrated into the southern four-metre high land filling on top of a two-storey underground parking on the site of the former south stand of the stadium. In order to reduce weight, the filling only consists of light materials.
The play areas are subdivided into three levels. The different levels are connected with each other by geometric modelling of various gradients with Tartan surfacing. The edges are of the same material and serve as seating steps.
The lower level for the youngest is a macadamised tree-lined front area of the car park pavilion with integrated toilet facilities. Fixed tables and benches as well as a large lowered sandbox make this place the ideal relaxation venue for young and old.
The second level and the adjacent steep areas are equipped with balancing, climbing and swinging elements. First and foremost, it is the bigger ones from 5 years onward who play here. Under the metal pergola with wisteria and a long bench seat, there is another macadamised area which invites the visitors to play boules. In addition, this area is equipped with outdoor fitness facilities which are actively used.
The upper level is an observation platform with an adjacent lawn area. It is here, where visitors of all age groups are attracted by the particularly steep declivity of the two metal slides.
Trampolines, "bush phones" and metal structures are considered as cross-area and structuring elements of different dimensions and heights. The metal structures are designed as support structures for climbing nets, rope games and swing elements.
At this playground there are neither paths, steps, nor barred areas. The different areas merge, functions overlap and different age groups meet to play.
Safety and concept of materials
The playground was designed in cooperation with a playground expert. Some of the elements were designed especially for this purpose. The play devices were installed in accordance with the respective safety requirements and regulations and are certified by the German Technical Inspection Agency. The applied materials were selected according to the existing topography, such as the two-layer Tartan surfacing for steep areas. The layering is structured by organic patterns of grey and red tones. All flat surfaces are either gravel surfaces or lawns. The materials used for the metal devices were selected in consultation with the owner and according to the maintenance requirements.
The water terraces
The water terraces consist of five sandblasted concrete surfaces. The four upper terraces are animated by water games. In the warm season, 50 water nozzles provide young and old with cooling and refreshment. The programming of the water games provides different phases of varying intensity. The maximum spraying height of the nozzles is three metres. All nozzles are arranged in one line which at the same time forms the lowest point of the terrace. By building a "big puddle" the water remains trapped at a maximum height of eight centimetres before it will be returned to the water cycle.
The fifth and lowest terrace is "dry". It is equipped with a drinking fountain and serves as a resting area. Directly underneath this level, the technical equipment is stored, including the water retention basin, the filtration and chlorination facilities as well as the programming system. Currently, the engineering authorities of the city of Geneva are responsible for the maintenance of the devices.
Planting and maintenance
In addition to the multifaceted using options of the park and the play areas, the planting was also very important to us. The idea was to create different site-specific moods and seasonal highlights by using the appropriate planting. To do so, the land filling next to the Avenue de Chateleine was planted with pines and birch trees reaching from the park side above the seating steps up to the central lawn surface next to the main entrance area. The terrain modelling along the railroad tracks should serve as compensation areas which are reforested by regional boscages. The various types of trees around the border and central lawn areas provide shaded resting areas while at the same time they placing seasonal accents. Several groups of pagoda and Kentucky coffee trees form a translucent filter in front of the LMI residential building whereas the slim vertical Metasequoia trees mark their strong presence at the lowest point of the park. South of the Espace Hippomène the maple and cherry trees are enchanting both in spring with their beautiful tree blossoms and in autumn due to the exciting leaf colouring.
All path and square areas are made of local sandblasted concrete as well as the water terraces and seating areas.
After the park had been completed, it was handed over as a gift to the city of Geneva. The municipal parks department has its own office on site with two full-time workers to take care of the park.
Photo: Hüsler & Associés SA
Park Gustave & Léonard Hentsch in Geneva
Basic information about the park:
Competition by invitation: 2010
Planning and implementation: 2011-2015
Performance by landscape architects: 100 per cent according to SIA
Surface: 3.8 hectares
Construction costs: 15 million Swiss Francs
Team information:
Builder
Pic-Pic Promotion SA, represented by CBRE, Geneva
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