After the glass palace in New York, the UN offices in Geneva house the largest and most important international operations centre of the United Nations; the organisation’s main headquarters in Europe is office to the UN Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The renewal of Room XIX of the United Nations in Geneva measured 4,000 sq m, with a capacity of 800 and 320 desks for the delegates of the nations; it is the largest hall used for plenary assemblies.
The architectural design of Room XIX, with its circular concentric and radial pattern exemplifying the concept of equality, reflects the ideals the United Nations is founded on; instead of lots of desks with different rows, a single module has been designed that can be combined with the others, with a view to promoting the individuality and identity of the nations, and at the same time expressing the strength of the union as a single entity focused on resolving the world’s problems together.
The dune (the vaulted ceiling) and the sky (the nations) are conceptually inverted, in an upside-down position; in the collective imagination, the dune represents a fascinating, unique natural phenomenon, in which the shapes change and adapt according to the movement of the wind, creating a series of meandering, shifting outlines on a desert landscape; a celebration of the dune means a celebration of evolution, history, traditions and culture, and at the same time, it represents a challenge to guide the changes necessary to improve our future and preserve its environment.
Different lighting scenarios, mimicking sunrise and sunset, are used in Room XIX, also known as the Hall of Qatar, in order to guarantee maximum comfort for United Nations delegates during the long meeting sessions. This is made possible thanks to the installation of an innovative circadian lighting system that highlights the cultural irregularity of the ceiling.
In addition, to provide a further comfortable source of light, create a pleasant view, and also as a reminder of the environmental emergences the planet faces, an automatic, motorised opening system has been introduced, offering a view over the Park, Lake Geneva and out towards the magnificent Mont Blanc massif.
The hall is also equipped with the most advanced technology, including high definition motorised cameras and a sophisticated new transmission system, ten simultaneous interpreting booths, a booth for sign language interpreters, 400 high definition audio and video monitors boosted with a cutting edge light system and excellent acoustic performance aided by a parametric software.