The Salève cable car receives a major architectural prize

It is the consecration for the Salève cable car. The infrastructure, designed in the 1930s by Geneva architect Maurice Braillard, was awarded this Monday the Silver Square Prize 2024.

This architectural distinction is “one of the most coveted in the world of architecture” and “crowns an exceptional work which combines innovation, respect for heritage and collaborative excellence”, explains the Local cross-border cooperation group for the operation of the Salève cable car (GLCT TS) in a press release released this Tuesday.

Cross-border cooperation welcomed

The prize rewards the quality of the project to rehabilitate the departure and arrival stations, located respectively in Étrembières and Monnetier-Mornex, in Haute-Savoie, on the outskirts of Geneva. These have been the subject of major renovation work between 2021 and 2023 for an amount of around 13 million euros. The concrete facade was restored and the gallery regained its original essence with its checkerboard tiles on the floor.

The jury praised “an intervention of great humility and incredible commitment from the architects Devaux & Devaux, as well as exemplary project management,” notes the GLCT TS in the press release. “This award is proof that cross-border cooperation, dialogue between our territories and the involvement of local stakeholders were the keys to this success,” says Anny Martin, president of the GLCT TS, quoted in the document.

Second architectural award

The cable car had already received another architectural distinction: the A10+1presented as the national prize for architectural criticism. This new Silver Équerre award “confirms the quality of this project and its impact for the Greater Geneva region”, rejoices the GLCT TS.

Let us add that a café, called “1100”, and a bistronomic restaurant, “Vertiges”, complete the project. Both are located at the arrival station. The first opened its doors in August and the second last October.

The Salève cable car transports around 300,000 users per year to and from the “most Genevan of the French mountains”.

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Fabrice Breithaupt is a journalist and editorial secretary. He deals with Franco-Swiss cross-border issues, but also real estate, employment and training. He has been a PR journalist since 1995 (radio, then written press).More info

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