Cynara is a new neighbourhood of 550 dwellings in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, developed within a territory shaped by both urban growth and an agricultural heritage.

The project is conceived from the collective realm outward. Rather than treating public space as the residual space between buildings, squares, alleys and courtyards become the primary structure of the neighbourhood, fostering encounters and a strong sense of community.

Particular attention is given to the transition between public and private life. Entrances, galleries and shared outdoor spaces create a gradual sequence of relationships that encourages everyday interaction while preserving domestic intimacy.

A diverse range of housing typologies responds to orientation, views, sunlight and proximity to communal spaces. A shared catalogue of architectural elements generates coherence across the five blocks, while variations in rhythm, colour and composition give each building its own identity.

Cynara embraces a simple principle: a common framework capable of accommodating difference – same same but different.