Les Avanchets
Origin of the name Les Avanchets
The district takes its name from a stream (nant), the « Avanchet », which flows across the land between today's Cointrin airport and the Le Lignon estate, north of which it joins the Rhône.[1]
Founding of Les Avanchets
Les Avanchets did not exist before the estate. At the end of the 19th century the area was still rural, and the land held a tree nursery belonging to the Boccard-Tremblet family. Rezoned as an expansion zone in the early 1960s, it waited several years: a first project by the firm Addor & Julliard was abandoned. The Zurich company Ernst Göhner AG finally bought the land from the Boccard heirs. Peter Steiger and Walter Maria Förderer designed the complex using a heavy prefabrication system supplied by IGECO, in Etoy. Jean Riondel, winner of the 1972 competition, designed the schools, and Christian Stern the outdoor areas. The district, formed by the Avanchet-Parc estate, belongs to the municipality of Vernier.[1][2][3][4]
History of Les Avanchets
1899. The Siegfried map shows a rural area. The land holds a tree nursery belonging to the Boccard-Tremblet family.[1]
1961. The firm Addor & Julliard presents a first orthogonal project and the land is rezoned as an expansion zone. On 20 October the Grand Council adopts a master plan for the Avanchets area.[1][2]
1962. The project is provisionally abandoned.[1]
1968. The firm Julliard & Bolliger proposes an organic layout plan.[1]
1969. In the autumn the Boccard heirs sign a promise of sale in favour of the Ernst Göhner company. Peter Steiger and Walter Maria Förderer draw up a preliminary design.[1][2]
1970. The final deed of sale is signed in May. The project then provides for 2'096 flats in 101 buildings. Construction of the seven slab blocks begins.[1][2]
1971. Earthworks begin on 30 August.[2]
1973. The first tenant moves in on 1 April, rue Oscar-Bider. The first 54 flats are inaugurated on 19 June.[2]
1974. The Avanchet-Jura school opens at the end of August.[2]
1975. The Avanchet-Salève school is inaugurated at the end of August.[2]
1977. The last flat is completed on 3 October. The estate is finished, as is the place of worship begun in 1973.[1][2]
1983. A neighbourhood centre is built.[2]
1987. The l'Eclipse leisure centre is inaugurated on 9 December.[2]
2023. On 1 April, the listing of Les Avanchets in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance (ISOS) comes into force.[1]
Population of Les Avanchets
Sources and references: [1][2]
| 2005 | 6'500 (approximately) |
| 2021 | 5'790 (approximately, June 2021) |
Historic sites in Les Avanchets
The seven slab blocks. Seven heavy-prefabrication slab blocks built from 1970 to 1977, with more than 2'200 dwellings, two thirds of them subsidised (HLM and HCM) and 134 reserved for elderly people.[1]
Avanchet-Jura and Avanchet-Salève schools. Schools designed by the architect Jean Riondel, winner of the 1972 competition. Avanchet-Jura was built from 1972 to 1974, Avanchet-Salève from 1974 to 1976.[1]
L'Eclipse leisure centre. Leisure centre inaugurated on 9 December 1987.[2]
Sources
- Office fédéral de la culture, Inventaire fédéral des sites construits d'importance nationale à protéger en Suisse (ISOS), « Les Avanchets », commune de Vernier, fiche 6283 (1re version, juin 2021 ; en vigueur le 1.4.2023)
- Ville de Vernier, Actualités Vernier, « Avanchets-Parc, une cité en devenir », février 2005
- 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 « Les Avanchets (GE) - Vernier »
Other villages near Les Avanchets
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