The new Médecins Sans Frontières headquarters in Geneva combines spatial adaptability, energy efficiency and passive design strategies. The vegetated envelope, solar protection measures and the use of locally sourced timber contribute to its environmental performance.
The new Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) headquarters in the Morillon district of Geneva was conceived as an office building capable of responding to the changing needs of an organisation that operates through dynamic working teams. With a net floor area of 14,260 m² and completed in 2022, the project integrates sustainability at multiple scales, from spatial organisation to material selection and envelope design. The scheme prioritises flexible and scalable spaces, combining work areas for groups of different sizes, meeting rooms and shared spaces that encourage everyday interaction.
Among the project’s key environmental strategies is a three-dimensional vegetated façade that provides shading and climatic buffering while also contributing to air quality through CO₂ absorption. The building envelope incorporates timber cladding, external textile solar shading and triple glazing. Thermal transmittance values range from 0.12 to 0.18 W/m²K for the external walls and 0.08 W/m²K for the roof. The use of locally sourced timber, including silver fir, is presented as a measure to store carbon and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Future adaptability also forms part of the project strategy, with an initial capacity exceeding MSF’s current requirements and provision for a future seven-storey extension.
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