Old city map of Geneva, 1957

In 1957, Geneva stood at the intersection of tradition and modernity, embodying its long-established role as an international city while adapting to the political and economic realities of the postwar world. Situated at the western tip of Lake Geneva, where the Rhône flows out toward France, the city presented a carefully ordered urban landscape framed by water, mountains, and an expanding metropolitan fabric. The Jet d’Eau, already a defining landmark, symbolized both technical confidence and civic identity, rising prominently against the backdrop of the Alps and the Jura.

The historic core—centered on the Old Town (Vieille Ville) and St. Pierre Cathedral—retained its dense medieval street pattern, contrasting with the more rational urban planning of the 19th and early 20th centuries visible in districts such as Plainpalais and Eaux-Vives. By the late 1950s, new residential blocks, transportation infrastructure, and administrative buildings reflected Geneva’s growing population and its increasing international responsibilities.

Geneva in 1957 was firmly established as a hub of diplomacy and humanitarian governance. The presence of the United Nations Office at the Palais des Nations, along with organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and numerous specialized agencies, shaped both the city’s economy and its cosmopolitan character. This international dimension influenced urban development, cultural life, and architecture, introducing a modernist vocabulary alongside traditional Swiss restraint.

Economically, the city balanced finance, precision industries, and international services, while maintaining a reputation for stability and neutrality during the Cold War era. Public spaces, lakeside promenades, and carefully managed vistas underscored Geneva’s emphasis on quality of life and civic order.

Viewed in retrospect, Geneva in 1957 represents a moment of confident transition: a historic city consolidating its global role while preserving the spatial and cultural continuity that had defined it for centuries.