The Annemasse agglomeration, with its 94,000 inhabitants (more than double in 60 years) today constitutes the second urban area of Haute-Savoiewith demographic growth of 0.8% per year.
The opportunity to create a Concerted development zone (ZAC) of 19 hectaresstraddling the municipalities of Annemasse, Ambilly and Ville-la-Grand, on disused railway land, industrial wastelands, aging buildings or departing activities, therefore appeared to be essential for the future development of the territory.
Baptized the Starit is located near the new station connected to the Léman Express (inaugurated in 2019), a true RER of Greater Geneva.
Annemasse Aggloproject owner of the operation, entrusted, in 2013, project management (architecture, town planning, landscape and infrastructure) of the whole to Parisian firm Devillers & Associés. “Our work as town planners, explains Benoît Billy, project director, consisted first of all in establishing the overall plan of the district, with the distribution of buildings and public space. Then, it is a question of supporting real estate operations, in conjunction with their own architects and of defining the requirements applying to the constructions.
The Annemasse eco-district, a second centrality of Greater Geneva
This concerns spatial quality, comfort of use, materials. Prototypes of facades are thus produced to ensure that what is being built complies with very high quality requirements.
“When we initially visited the place, with Christian Devillers, specifies the architectwhat struck us was the large landscape that emerged from a site, empty at the time, making us want to re-anchor it in its environment by generating views of the mountains. Hence the idea of creating a large park along the railway line, which can be seen when arriving by train, which is important in terms of urban image.”
The other priority was to design theAnnemasse eco-district as a second centrality of greater Genevawith a strong and qualitative urbanity, making the link with the other districts which surround it, between the density of the city center and a residential area, more green.
“The challenge, for the agglomeration, emphasizes Benoît Billy, it's not just about creating a residential area, but about moving away from the image of a dormitory town by providing a mix of activities.”
-1,600 housing units to come for the Etoile eco-district, in Annemasse
This will be largely ensured, both in terms of the distribution of attractions and on a societal level, with, on the housing side, nearly 1,600 housing units (over 100,000 m²), respecting the principle one third social rental, one third affordable accession (including real joint lease) and one third free accession.
The tertiary sector will include 35,000 m², higher education 15,000 m², shops 5,000 m², activities and services, 5,000 m² (including third places, co-working, etc.), hotels also 5,000 m² as well as equipment. such as a school group, a gymnasium and a convention center.
To date, there is already a hotel (opened in 2021), close to the station, as well as a building with 57 accommodations (2022), while several projects are underwayincluding that already well advanced of theNursing Training Institute (IFSI), and that half of the building permits have already been granted.
In terms of construction, 2025 appears to be a pivotal year with some 420 housing units which should be deliveredor more than a quarter of the total of a district expected to develop until 2031.
“Respect the existing architectural identity of the city”
For UrbanEra, urban developer of Bouygues Immobilier, which was designated developer of the ZAC in 2016, one of the objectives is to achieve a zero energy district, thanks to the construction of buildings that consume very little energy with a biomass heat network and photovoltaic electricity production.
Valentin Chabrand, project manager at Urbanera, shares: “Beyond, our concern, is to “make a neighborhood”, so that when it is put into use, people understand the very idea of an eco-neighborhood.”
A lot of work has already been done in this direction with the population, with Annemasse Agglo and the Council for Architecture, Urban Planning and the Environment (CAUE) of Haute-Savoie. “Our desire is to respect the existing architectural identity of the city while bringing it up to date.”
