The evolution of the role of the car in the city of Geneva has gone through several phases over time, influenced by various factors such as demographic growth, economic changes, environmental concerns, and technological advancements.

In the post-war years, the car became a symbol of modernity and freedom, leading to a high demand for road infrastructure. This resulted in the construction of main roads and wide avenues crossing the city and its surroundings, as well as the development of parking lots to meet the growing demand for parking spaces. However, over the past decades, Geneva has witnessed a major paradigm shift in terms of mobility. Growing concerns about air pollution, traffic congestion, and urban quality of life have prompted authorities and the population to reconsider the omnipresence of the car.

Urban policies focused on promoting public transport, cycling, and walking have been implemented, leading to the creation of pedestrian zones, protected bike lanes, and the expansion of public transport networks. Large and modern infrastructures designed for the development and prominence of the car (parking lots, garages, gas stations, etc.) are now forced to reinvent themselves and relocate to the outskirts of the city to ensure the necessary profitability for their maintenance. The conversion of gas stations and car garages in the city center is a trend that has emerged in response to changes in urban mobility, the transition to more sustainable modes of transport, and economic developments.

For this semester, the studio "Réanime" proposes to understand, reflect, and sketch new mixed-use programs that are necessary and vital for the inhabitants of a building, a neighborhood, and a city. The projects take place in a given existing industrial site (garage and gas station) where potential futures are imagined while preserving the existing structure.