Building of the Driving forces

The Bâtiment of the Driving forces (BFM) is old a factory hydroelectric located at Geneva (Suisse) and reconverted thereafter as a theater under the name of room Theodore Turrettini .

Project

In 1880, the hydraulic machine located at the Bridge of the Machine, in spite of its successive enlargings, is not enough any more to face at the request of water of the city. The Grand the Council thus grants the town of Geneva the concession of the driving forces of the the Rhone the December 30th 1882. This one is committed building a new hydraulic factory which would feed the city in Drinking water and in energy produced by the technique of water under Pression. Consequently occasion, it deals with necessary works with the regularization of the Lac Léman, in particular by the construction of a stopping with curtains.

As the project in question envisages the construction of the factory on the territory of the commune of Plainpalais, which knows financial problems then, the Administrative counsel of Geneva starts negotiations with the Council of State so that part of the district of the Junction, located on the commune of Plainpalais, is annexed to him. In front of its refusal, it is decided that the building would be finally built on the Rhone whose bed had been conceded at the town of Geneva in 1882. Consequently, the engineer and to advise administrative Theodore Turrettini develop the construction project.

Machine

Work begins in November 1883 in order to benefit from one period when water is low. The arms of the Rhone are successively drained to allow the construction of the building, the hydraulic system and the stopping with curtain of the Pont of the Machine. The first five groups of Turbine S are inaugurated in May 1886. In 1892, the large wing of the building is finished and 18 groups of pumps and turbines are then in function.

The interior of the building of style Art schools makes up of immense spaces which no wall comes to cut whereas the Toit is supported by a metal Charpente. The frontages are in Béton and Pierre and only that which faces the lake is decorated of Statue S representing Neptune, Cérès and Mercure. In addition, to avoid overpressures, a Vanne of discharge is installed close to the large wing by creating the first water jet of Geneva.

Reconversion

The building is abandoned in the Années 1960 when the Industrie S are moved with the periphery of the city. Classified historic building in 1988, several tracks are then explored to find a new assignment to him. After several contacts with the department in load of the building and the generosity of a Patron Genevese, it is decided to build a new theater of 1000 places adapted to the needs for the Grand Theater. This room must accommodate during one year the productions of the Large Theater then to be used at event-driven ends or for spectacles. Only two pumps are preserved in the small wing. According to the plans of the architect Bernard Picenni, a place of reception is created in the small wing and the theater itself in the large wing. The theater, inaugurated in September 1997, is entirely built in Bois and includes/understands 801 places with the floor and 144 with the balcony.

In December 1997, a footbridge pedestrian is fixed on the frontages north and west of the building and makes it possible to connect the walk of the Lavender fields to the esplanade of the Barrage of Seujet and to the Place of the Volunteers. It takes support on the piles of the old footbridge of maintenance to the bottom of the windows of the building.

Sources

History of the BFM
Project of the Driving forces on the site of the files of State of Geneva
Footbridge of the BFM

External bonds

Official site of the BFM

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