Geneva — In a striking example of how Middle Eastern architectural talent is reshaping historic urban fabric beyond regional borders, Cairo-based Base Studio has completed a sensitive and imaginative restoration of the 19th-century Halles de l’Île in Geneva, transforming the once-neglected slaughterhouse into Odys Bar, a vibrant public bar and social hub on the Rhône riverfront.
This project marks one of the most visible international achievements in recent years by Egyptian architects and designers working on the world stage, foregrounding both cultural continuity and adaptive reuse. Base Studio — an interdisciplinary collective headquartered in Cairo — operates at the convergence of architecture, design, and art, and brings a distinctly narrative-driven approach to projects that negotiate between old and new.
Heritage Conservation Meets Contemporary Use
Originally erected in 1849 following a competition won by Jean-Marie Gignoux as Geneva’s municipal slaughterhouse, the Halles de l’Île is the only remaining industrial structure of its type in the city. The building’s extensive history includes its later conversion into a covered market and a cultural centre, surviving threats of demolition in the 1970s through public resistance. Base Studio’s intervention honours this layered past.
Base Studio’s design philosophy for Odys Bar centres on minimal intervention and continuity of space. Rather than imposing a dramatic new layer over the historic fabric, the team preserved the hall’s rhythmic vaulted interiors and original stone envelope, stabilising and cleaning surfaces while inserting lightweight, reversible elements that complement rather than compete with the heritage structure.
Spatial Narrative and Architectural Dialogue
At the heart of the project is a central sculptural bar, conceived as both a social nucleus and a spatial anchor. Its fluid form, influenced by the motion of the Rhône and the contours of the island itself, guides visitors through a sequence of spaces where texture, light, and movement converge. Textured plaster, brushed metal, and warm timber create a tactile dialogue with the building’s original stone shell — an architectural conversation that bridges local Swiss heritage and Egyptian design sensibilities.
Light plays a central role in the experience of Odys Bar, with carefully calibrated illumination transforming the interior from soft daylight gatherings into dynamic evening activations. Projections cast across the vaulted interiors engage both visitors and the river beyond, re-establishing a visual interplay between the hall and its surroundings.
Egyptian Architecture on the Global Stage
This Geneva project contributes to a broader narrative of Egyptian architectural practice gaining international recognition. Beyond Base Studio’s work, Egyptian architects have been receiving global accolades: for example, renowned Egyptian architect Abdelwahed El-Wakil was recently awarded the 2025 Tamayouz Lifetime Achievement Award for his influence in reviving traditional Islamic architectural forms.
Base Studio’s Odys Bar itself has earned acclaim back home: the project was shortlisted for the Cairo Design Award and recognized as a realized public building, celebrating not just its successful heritage adaptation but also the role of Egyptian designers in shaping spaces well outside their national context.
A New Civic Landmark
Odys Bar’s transformation of Halles de l’Île not only revives a historic site but also repositions it within Geneva’s urban life as a place of gathering, reflection, and connection. By balancing preservation with contemporary spatial expression, the project demonstrates how architects from Egypt are contributing meaningfully to global architectural discourse, engaging with historic structures while resonating with contemporary social and cultural life.
