bunq architectes

Description

The Tour César, which dates back to the 11th century, is a historic building in the town of Nyon. It is a landmark visible from both Lake Geneva and the castle esplanade and is listed as a site of national interest. The project was carried out in two phases: the refurbishment of the flats in 2017, followed by the renovation of the roof and façades in 2025. In the first stage, the project sought to bring light into the heart of the apartments, which were dark and cramped. The bedroom and bathroom areas are combined within a large «furniture unit» that also incorporates the kitchen. This creates an open-plan living room. The other three walls of the space were stripped back to reveal the original stonework. In contrast, the installed unit is made of wood. Like a large built-in cabinet, it is articulated as a sequence of doors providing access to the rooms and integrated storage spaces. Several partial and successive interventions, the last of which dated back to the 1960s, had considerably damaged the building’s heritage fabric. Significant deterioration of the masonry and roof made a complete restoration of the tower’s envelope necessary. Solid stone frames have replaced the false cladding, and the windows have been exchanged for solid timber versions based on historical drawings but fitted with insulating glass. The 16th-century roof structure has been reinforced and insulated. Some of the medieval roof tiles were salvaged and re-laid. The replacement of the render completed this renewal.