In-demand Designer

Geneva-born architect Yuri Kravchenko is a consummate fan of his hometown, bursting with enthusiasm for all it has to offer. “It’s where I’m most comfortable, where my friends and family are, and where I have a wonderful canvas for many projects,” he says. Kravchenko founded his studio YKRA in 2012 and is currently the hottest architect in town, known for his signature style that marries theatricality with playful intimacy, classic – sometimes even kitsch – with contemporary. (He is also the designer behind the Hamlet’s Square.)

As dynamic as he is talented, Kravchenko is full of suggestions for visitors, quickly rattling off a list of his favorite outings: “A sauna at the Bains des Pâquis, followed by a swim in the lake. Saturday morning breakfast at the chocolate shop and bakery Berger de Faletans – their pain au chocolat is the best – followed by a stroll around the Plainpalais Flea Market. It’s honestly better than the Paris flea markets, with more reasonable prices. Lunch at Saveurs d’Italie, a gourmet grocery and restaurant – get a table in the back room and order polpetta alla pomodoro – incredibly delicious.” For culture, he likes to check out the rotating exhibits from the permanent collection at the Museum of Art and History, which is a short walk away from his favorite green space: Parc des Bastions, where he likes to stop in at the striking glass restaurant/bar Kiosque des Bastions (“everyone that works there is always happy and friendly”). When the retail urge hits, he suggests a visit to Dimanche, the interior design showroom he opened next to his studio, offering a cool mix of items from well-known design names, artists’ creations, and his own flea-market finds.

And, if you’ve still got time and energy, he suggests you head to Carouge, Geneva’s younger, bohemian sister. Built by the King of Sardinia in the 1800s, Carouge is technically a separate town but easily accessible by car, tram or on foot from the city center. His top tips: a drink on the picturesque Place du Marché, a meal at Yeast (“sit in the lovely inner courtyard that’s hidden from the street”), and if it’s the first Sunday of the month, a browse through the small-but-selective antiques market, also located at the Place du Marché.