08 Placette des Bergières

Number of votes

5,575 (4,979 paper / 596 online)

1. The project in a nutshell

Creation of a welcoming, tree-lined gathering space on the plaza connecting the CVE des Bergières to Espace 44. This green oasis will serve as a lively gathering place for families in the neighborhood.

2. The Project’s Objective

The main objective is to provide residents and users of the Bergières facilities with a welcoming space that promotes harmonious community life and biodiversity. Currently, the Bergières school site is primarily used by more than 900 students, 100 teachers, 150 children from the daycare center and their caregivers, as well as an average of 500 people per week who visit Espace 44—across all age groups. This site is constantly used as a parking lot, which is dangerous for young users (daycare children, those accessing the cafeteria, and schoolchildren crossing the area). Its redevelopment will help clarify its various uses. The various participatory projects in which neighborhood residents can take part, as part of the Placette’s redevelopment, will foster development in an atmosphere designed to be friendly and respectful of the site. The redevelopment of La Placette will also serve as a welcoming prelude to the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Collège des Bergières in 2023.

3. The Project in Detail

“La Placette des Bergières: From Concrete to a Living Space” is intended to be a partial tree-planting project that, through the creation of a welcoming public space, will encourage interactions among neighborhood residents. This small square, currently paved with concrete, is a central gathering place for residents of the Bergières neighborhood due to its proximity to the Bergières School, the CVE, Espace 44, and the sports center, among other facilities. The goal of our project is to bring greenery—and with it, shade and a cooler atmosphere—to a heavily trafficked area that, in addition to being paved with concrete, currently offers no welcoming or restful spaces. To carry out this project, it is necessary to remove a significant area of concrete. This will allow us to plant a tree, install a seating platform, lay mineral-based ground cover, and create a planting area. To create contrasting atmospheres at La Placette, we have chosen to plant a deciduous tree (e.g., Oriental plane tree) well-suited to climate change, particularly due to the seasonal variations in the hues of its foliage. All around the tree, a wooden decking (larch) will serve as a seating area. Young and old alike will be able to meet there, rest, or enjoy a snack. The tree’s canopy will provide shade for those sitting at its base. On the ground, part of the space will be paved, and the other part will be dedicated to planting grasses to contribute to the site’s biodiversity. The attached plan takes into account the underground utility layout of the proposed area for removing the asphalt, planting the tree, and the space needed for the grasses. Once redeveloped, the Placette des Bergières will be part of the city’s canopy plan, as it will reduce ambient heat and enhance the quality of life for the community. This project will thus transform this location into a welcoming, restful space and meet the expectations of families and users of facilities in the Bergières neighborhood. Finally, we envision it as a lively and pleasant gathering place.

4. The amount requested to carry out the project

19,000 CHF

• Communication, visuals, printing: 200 CHF

• Administrative expenses, photocopies, etc.: 300 CHF

• Volunteer meals, vehicle rental: 800 CHF

• Tree supply, planting work, digging holes, supply and installation of soil and stone, stump removal, wooden platform: 17,000 CHF

• Miscellaneous and unforeseen expenses: 700 CHF

5. Neighborhood(s)

Beaulieu

6. The Association

Espace 44