Geneva - Place des Nations

Geneva's Place des Nations, 2km/1mi north of the Pont du Mont-Blanc, is a busy traffic intersection around which are the headquarters of many international organizations.

South of the square in the district of Varembé are a series of modern buildings occupied by a variety of important institutions. Between the Chemin des Colombettes and the Avenue Guiseppe-Motta are the United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property (BIRPI: by P. Braillart, 1962) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO/OMM)): by E. Martin, 1956). Between Avenue Guiseppe-Motta and Rue de Vermont is the International Telecommunications Union (ITU/UIT), a six-sided tower block by Bordigoni (1958). At the corner of Rue Varembé and Rue de Montbrillant is the Centre International, housing numerous international associations; and closely adjoining are the European Free Trade Association (EFTA: by Grand, Praplan and Fischer, 1969), with a beautiful inner courtyard, and the new International Conference Center and Press House (CIGG: by A. and F. Gaillard and A. Camenzind, 1971). Also in this area is a modern Roman Catholic church, Saint-Nicolas-de-Flüe (by Bouvier and V. and J. Malnati, 1967), which was visited by Pope Paul VI in 1969.