THE CHOICE OF THE SITE

The choice of the site was made by analogies and contrasts between two places emblematic of Geneva: the lakefront and the Plaine de Plainpalais.

The site of the lakefront is famous for the lake, its parks, the fountain, the quality of its urban circumference and for the magic which emerges from the neon signs at night, creating a necklace of advertising and decorative pearls which gives it the statute of a prestigious window for the business world of Geneva, its luxury trade and tourism.

The Plaine de Plainpalais, the architecture and buildings around which is very close to the landscape of the harbour, is characterized however by its urban identity: a popular multi-purpose ground. Anchored in the history of Geneva, the Plaine was at the beginning a marshy zone, transformed in the Middle Ages into a space of pasture open to the public thanks to damming and cleansing works. Today, it is an open space offered to the population for their social and cultural life. The Plaine keeps its own original character thanks to its versatility and to the ever changing activities which are developed there in succession. This huge ground of 78’135 m2, property of the City of Geneva, accommodates in addition, flea markets, vegetable and fruit markets, seasonal markets and various sporting activities (skate park, bowling tournaments), the annual round of different circuses, fun fairs and many specific and festive demonstrations.

This space is located at the heart of a district which is ever changing, which benefits from a high density of cultural buildings: on the one side the Opera House, the House of Arts of the Grütli, the Victoria Hall, and a constellation of contemporary art galleries (Quartier des Bains), around the BAC (Building of Contemporary Art) which joins together the Mamco, the Centre of Contemporary Art, the Centre of Photography.

Panorama La Rade  


LOCATION OF LUMINOUS WORKS ON THE ROOFS OF THE BUILDINGS

  1. Jérôme Leuba, «BREATH», 2 avenue du Mail, phase 1
  2. Sylvie Fleury, «YES TO ALL», 2 rue Patru / corner avenue du Mail, phase 1
  3. Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, «EXPODROME», 11 avenue du Mail, phase 2
  4. Christian Jankowski, «What I still have to take care of», 20 avenue du Mail, phase 2
  5. Sislej Xhafa, «Axis of Silence», 14B avenue du Mail, phase 3
  6. Nic Hess, «Fly A Dragon Kite», 6 avenue Henri-Dunant, phase 3

 

LOCATION OF THE ALREADY EXISTING NEON SIGNS

  1. «ALLIANZ»
  2. «SECURITON»
  3. «RENTES GENEVOISES»
  4. Artistic intervention by Tatsuo Miyajima (order of the Contemporary Art Fund of the Canton, 1997)

 

map of the area
map of the area (pdf - 2.2 Mo)