Le Lignon
Origin of the name Le Lignon
In 1791 Francis d'Ivernois bought the Grebattes estate and renamed it « Lignon », after a river that appears in Honoré d'Urfé's pastoral novel.[1]
Founding of Le Lignon
Le Lignon is a satellite housing estate in the municipality of Vernier. Before the 1960s the land was mainly farmland. A small group of farms survives. In 1962-1963 the State of Genève chose the site under its « Plan d'action-logements » and rezoned it as building land in 1963. The estate was built in two stages, from 1963 to 1967 (1'846 flats) and from 1967 to 1971, for almost 10'000 inhabitants in 2'700 flats. It was designed by the architects Georges Addor, Dominique Julliard, Jacques Bolliger and Louis Payot, with the landscape architect Walter Brugger for the outdoor spaces. The plan, inspired by that of Toulouse-le-Mirail, is based on a block almost a kilometre long and two towers, and covers only about 8 % of the ground.[1][3]
History of Le Lignon
1422. The land of the future estate belongs to the confraternity of the Holy Spirit.[1]
1791. Francis d'Ivernois buys the Grebattes estate and renames it « Lignon ».[1]
1962-1963. The State of Genève chooses the site under the « Plan d'action-logements ». The land is rezoned as building land in 1963.[1]
1963-1967. First construction stage: 1'846 flats.[1]
1967-1971. Second construction stage; the estate is planned for almost 10'000 inhabitants in 2'700 flats.[1]
2008. A site plan (plan de site) protects the estate.[1]
2008-2011. Renovation of the building envelopes.[1]
2018. At the end of the year almost 5'800 people live on the estate.[1]
2021. On 1 May, the record for Le Lignon in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance (ISOS) comes into force, recognising the estate's exceptional historical and architectural qualities.[1]
Population of Le Lignon
Sources and references: [1]
| 2018 | 5'800 (approximately, end of 2018) |
Historic sites in Le Lignon
The long block and the towers. Residential block almost a kilometre long and two towers, built from 1963 to 1971. The two towers, at the southern end of the block, have 27 and 31 levels and can be clearly seen from various viewpoints in the canton.[1]
Outdoor spaces. Extensive green spaces designed by the landscape architect Walter Brugger. The buildings cover only about 8 % of the ground.[1]
Fields and meadows. Farmland next to the estate, with a small group of farms older than the estate, which the ISOS wants preserved as open space.[1]
Sources
- Office fédéral de la culture, Inventaire fédéral des sites construits d'importance nationale à protéger en Suisse (ISOS), « Le Lignon », commune de Vernier, fiche 6282 (1re version, mai 2019 ; en vigueur le 1.5.2021)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vernier » (Pierre Pittard), version de 1999 remaniée le 03.01.2015
- Office fédéral de topographie swisstopo, geo.admin.ch, nom local « Le Lignon (GE) - Vernier »
Other villages near Le Lignon
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