In 2010, Michel Noiset and his wife, Danielle Noiset-Lekeu, were living in Germany, but they longed to return to Geneva, where Michel had lived for 30 years. When they heard there was an opening in the Immeuble Clarté, a building designed by Le Corbusier and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret and finished in 1932 in the lively Eaux-Vives neighborhood, they jumped at the opportunity because of the location, light, and views. “My first impression was that I found the building superb. It was a jewel,” says Michel, 78, a former electronics engineer and IT executive. The couple purchased the five-room, 1,345-square-foot flat, which had not been altered since 1975.

Danielle, a former interior designer, reached out to Brigitte Jucker-Diserens of DVK Architects to collaborate on a renovation that would honor the clarity of Le Corbusier’s vision and unfold over a quick four months thanks to the efficiency of the craftsmen they hired. New electrical and plumbing systems were put in, while original elements such as the wood floor, radiators, and doors were preserved.

Upon entry, one is greeted with a deep-red wall painted with Rouge Vermillon from Les Couleurs Le Corbusier, a historical palette of 63 original colors created by the maestro in 1931 and 1959. To take advantage of the second-floor view, the main room was divided into two; a custom oak-and-steel dining table by Geneva architect F. Joss and vintage 3103 wood chairs by Arne Jacobsen were placed in the north-facing dining room. Diagonally across is a Dossier Basculant armchair designed by Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret, and Le Corbusier in 1929. Sitting catty-corner is a modular gray sofa, juxtaposed with work by Swiss artist Carmen Perrin above. “You have the impression that the flat is bigger than it is. The circulation is wonderful,” Michel says.

The couple did their utmost to maintain the kitchen’s original footprint but installed streamlined stainless-steel countertops and new wood cabinets alongside a metal-and-wood table commissioned by Parisian artisan M. Reis. The red terra-cotta tile was swapped out with wood floors, and a modern refrigerator was hidden behind a panel door, also painted in Corbusier’s iconic rouge hue. And while the other rooms—including two bedrooms, one converted into an office, the other into a bathroom and dressing room—were restored and updated, the interiors still embody a certain restraint.

The apartment itself was only one part of the appeal for the couple; a chance to live in a building that fit their aesthetic preferences perfectly was another. Originally commissioned by Geneva developer and industrialist Edmond Wanner, the luminous structure was created as a new typology for urban living. Wanner’s plan aligned with Le Corbusier’s concept for an immeuble-villa (villa-apartment block) while underlining four of the designer’s five architectural principles: a roof garden, horizontal windows, a free-flowing plan, and a free facade.

With twin entrances and stairwells, the nine-story structure is supported by 280 reinforced concrete piles, as well as by steel parts that were manufactured in Wanner’s factories—and assembled using arc welding on-site. As an engineer, Michel appreciates the integration of modern industrial materials, emphasizing metal and glass. “We have balconies which give the impression that the building is like a cruise ship in the city,” he says.

Translated from French, clarté aptly refers to light and transparency. “It is highly likely that this name was given to the building because of the large quantity of glass used,” says art historian Lorena Cholakian Lombard. French glass manufacturer Saint-Gobain was responsible for the stairwell steps and floor tiles as well as the Nevada industrial molded-glass bricks on the facade, ground-floor arcade, and lobby entrance back wall. Two skylights that illuminate the stairwells—originally fabricated with reinforced concrete and round glass blocks—are now metal and support new glass slabs. The suspended, nickel-plated, tubular pendant lights were designed by Le Corbusier and extend from the top down to the first floor.

“The lightness and brightness of the building…. The passion I have. It’s like falling in love.”
–Michel Noiset, resident

In 2016, after a series of renovations, the building was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. To mark the 10th anniversary, the City of Geneva, in concert with the Department of Architectural Heritage Conservation and the Clarté Foundation, will renovate two apartments and a ground-floor space that will be open for public view in 2026. Cholakian Lombard will oversee the apartment renovations.

Though Immeuble Clarté will soon see a flurry of tourists eager to explore the work of one of modernism’s most influential architects, Michel and Danielle are thrilled they get to experience it day in and day out. During his career, Michel lived in 15 homes around the globe, including in Switzerland, England, France, Germany, and the United States. “This is the one that provides the most comfort,” he says.

Project Credits:

Restoration Architect: DVK Architectes / @dvkarchitectesofficiel

Interior Design: Danielle Noiset-Lekeu

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