The Quays of Clarens

Renovation of a building in Montreux.

The history of the two buildings on rue du Lac in Clarens is a little adventurous. False twins built side by side on the same alignment, they date back to the beginning of the last century. Until the middle of the century, they were used as hotels. In 1950, the Caisse cantonale vaudoise de compensation AVS bought the two entities and linked them by a low element to form a single complex. The premises, which had been completely refurbished to meet the specific administrative needs of this insurance scheme whose creation had been approved by the people three years earlier, were constantly adapted to keep pace with technical developments, including, in particular, computer cabling networks. It was the move of the Caisse cantonale vaudoise de compensation to Vevey at the beginning of 2016, to cope with the growth of its activities, that freed up the Clarens building and led to its takeover and fundamental reconversion.

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The new owner's intention, given the building's exceptional location just a few meters from Lake Geneva, is to turn it into condominiums. To achieve this, 35 lots have been identified, representing either apartments or premises for tertiary activities. The commune of Montreux has imposed a 15 percent reserve of available space for galleries or shops.

The project owner had planned to renovate and put the lots up for sale in two stages, one for each of the old buildings. In the end, demand and the progress of the work meant that development and sales were concentrated in a single operation. The resulting homes range from 2.5-room apartments to very large 7- or 8-room units when buyers acquired several lots and combined them into a single dwelling.

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The changeover from a totally administrative use to one of housing and premises for tertiary activity proved to be a transformation all the more drastic in that the contributors were faced with certain century-old original elements mixed with the most recent computer components.

As the building was unprotected, it was a total purge that the various trades engaged in. All the electrical and technical networks left by the AVS were dismantled, as were all the hydraulic pipes. Certain structural elements were removed or added to. In the course of this major clean-up, only the original wooden floors were preserved and reinforced, as was the roof structure. However, the roof had to be renovated and all the tinwork replaced.

Finally, the unity of the complex was cut. On the central link, the base built by the AVS to connect the two buildings, a central core was erected, equipped with elevators that serve only the tallest building, number 41. The other building has its own access and distribution system. Inside, the apartments were fitted out according to the wishes of the new owners, and therefore vary from one apartment to another.

During the restoration work, and in particular when dismantling the false ceilings, beautiful moldings dating back to the construction were uncovered. After more than a century, they were able to return to their rightful place in the newly restored ceilings.

Originally, the property enjoyed beautiful trees, several of which were centuries old. The entire garden and its various terraces overlooking the lake have been preserved.

The second major transformation of a building more than a century old was a challenge in all the interventions necessary to make people forget the cold atmosphere of administrative needs. The Belle Époque origin of the new complex facilitated the creation of quality housing that quickly found buyers. The challenge was met, and the new residents can now enjoy their privileged position just a few meters from Lake Geneva, with the Savoy Alps as their only backdrop.

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