After the “No” to the Mont-Blanc footbridge, heritage defenders are stepping up to the plate. They recall the attachment of the Genevans to their territory and advocate “gentle change with measured projects”.
The outcome of the vote on the pedestrian bridge of the Mont-Blanc bridge is, for some, indicative of a deep problem concerning the development of the end of the lake. For Leila El-Wakil, member of SOS heritage against the ugliness of Geneva, “the politicians are very far from the Vox Populi”. According to the architect and Art historian, politicians are proposing outdated large-scale projects.
Leila El-Wakil calls for more frugality and parsimony when it comes to planning, in order to better preserve resources. “This gateway was a staggering item on financial expenditure,” she notes.
David versus Goliath: episode 3
After the refusals of the renovation of the Museum of Art and History in 2016, that of the Cité de la Musique in 2021, this new setback from the authorities with the footbridge shows that the small but tenacious teams of heritage defenders have a certain weight.
Leila El-Wakil deplores the attitude of the authorities which aims, according to her, to “marginalize” the SOS heritage association, to date unrecognized. “A shame,” according to the member who believes that the association would be a good partner because it has the sensitivity of the Geneva population. The next major project in sight, the renovation of the MAH will return to the table for more than 300 million francs. But Leila El-Wakil emphasizes that there is no question of being a dissenting voice from the outset, it will first be necessary to evaluate the project.
Swiss
