Vaudoise Assurances, "Le Cèdre" building

The Le Cèdre building, designed by Jean Tschumi for Vaudoise Assurances, is remarkable in many respects, not least for its longevity and the flexibility of the concepts introduced in the 1950s, which are still relevant today and capable of providing a modern working environment.

The renovation project, conceived and carried out by Itten+Brechbühl, adopted a circular economy approach guided by the principle “Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed.” It maximizes the building’s potential by preserving its legacy qualities while also optimizing flexibility and user comfort. The junctions between the main building and the wing were redesigned as flexible meeting areas, and the roof terrace was remodeled according to the original plans.

Both pragmatic and cost-effective, this approach is in keeping with a heritage conservation perspective, reusing existing designs and materials wherever possible. The project aims to reintroduce visionary ideas from the 1950s, updated by modern technologies to offer greater comfort to its users.

Spatial reorganization: flexibility and well-being at work

The “Un moment charnière” project comprehensively restructured the interior spaces of Le Cèdre, making the most of its original potential. On most floors, the south-facing interior walls have been removed or replaced with glass partitions to enhance transparency, natural light and views of the surrounding landscape.

The south wall remains recognizable thanks to the conservation of a jutting edge that gives volumetric definition to the corridor, as well as through secondary workspaces that bring it to life.

The most symbolic restructuring focused on freeing up the junctions between the main building and the wing by relocating the sanitary facilities to their original position to the north. The junctions were originally dedicated to mail handling – once a critical business operation for insurance companies – and are now dedicated to meetings, collaborative work and breaks.

The fourth floor, preserved as a heritage reference, retains its original structure, including the south wall and historical finishes.

Outdoor spaces

The terrace on the third floor, now called “Espace Nectar” in a nod to the beehives found there, has been laid out according to the original plans, and its waterproofing has been redone.

The fifth-floor terrace, “Espace Belvédère”, has been laid out to accommodate employees, especially in summer, and to bring this area to life.