21st Century (2000–present)

Geneva PAV – Praille–Acacias–Vernets

2015– · Switzerland · Western & Central Europe · Transit-oriented urbanism and corridor planning · Planned by Canton/City of Geneva

2015 architectural scale model (maquette) of the Praille–Acacias–Vernets (PAV) redevelopment, Geneva. · CC BY-SA 4.0

Core idea

Industrial-to-urban mixed-use with transit

Why it matters

One of Switzerland’s largest inner-urban projects

Description

The Praille–Acacias–Vernets (PAV) project is a cantonal and municipal masterplan to convert an extensive inner-city industrial and logistics zone south of central Geneva into dense mixed-use neighbourhoods. Steered by the Canton and City of Geneva through a dedicated framework plan, it phases the relocation of industrial uses and rail yards to make way for tens of thousands of homes and jobs, structured around public transport and new public spaces along the Arve and Drize watercourses.

Significance

PAV is regularly described as one of Switzerland's largest inner-urban redevelopment operations, and it exemplifies the Swiss model of slow, negotiated densification within existing city fabric rather than peripheral expansion. It is closely watched in European planning circles for its handling of land owned or leased under cantonal control and its attempt to relieve Geneva's acute housing shortage. Debates over housing affordability, building heights and the pace of industrial relocation have made it a barometer of Geneva's growth politics.

What shaped it

Transit-oriented development (TOD) (1993)
The compact city (1973-1990s)
Zoning (1884 Germany / 1916 NYC)
The master plan (early 20th c.)

Sources

Open it on the interactive timeline →

hub.toekom.st — History of Urbanism · an interactive timeline of 850 planned cities across 6,000 years.