On the waterfront of Cologny, on the slope of the Nant d’Argent hill, Nautilus is not just another development: it is the project that embodies what is rarest in the Cologny market — exceptional new-build property, overlooking the lake, in the most sought-after municipality in Switzerland outside the mountains. Here is why this residence has become a benchmark — and how to gain access to it.
The location: the waterfront hillside, facing the harbour
Nautilus is nestled on the slope of the Nant d’Argent hill, close to the square tower, within a verdant park overlooking Lake Geneva. This is the exact quintessence of the geography that drives Cologny’s prices: the due-west-facing hillside, the panoramic view over the lake and the harbour, the intimacy of a leafy setting — five minutes from the centre of Geneva. In a municipality where land almost never comes onto the market, a new-build project in this location is, literally, an event.
The architecture: a tribute to the open sea
Designed by architect Neal Ymar, the architecture of Nautilus is a tribute to the sea and to freedom: curves and wide openings that expand the spaces towards the view — the lake, the gardens, the wooded plateaus. Inside, the deliberate reference is that of a yacht at berth: comfort, elegance, privacy — with interior design entrusted to Bismuth & Bismuth. Natural stone, woodwork, fine materials: the construction belongs in the category of exceptional developments.
Private mansions, not apartments
The typology is what makes the project unique: Nautilus offers individual residences — genuine private mansions — each with its own private pool, spa, and a fitness or cinema room on the ground floor. Upstairs, the large living spaces open onto the view, for entertaining, relaxing and sharing time together. Bulthaup kitchens, marble bathrooms, a fully secured residence: the level of specification matches what buyers in this segment compare with the best in the world — and rarely find in new-build property in Cologny.
Living in Cologny from Nautilus
Living at Nautilus means living in Cologny every day: the waterfront promenade along the water’s edge, the Pré Byron with its legendary view, the village — its square, its restaurants —, the Golf Club de Genève a few minutes away, and for families, the La Grande Boissière (Ecolint) campus a quarter of an hour away — the school geography detailed in our guide to buying in Cologny. The harbour, the airport and the centre remain within immediate reach: this is the promise of Cologny — the countryside in majesty, the city right next door — carried to its most accomplished degree.
Buying exceptional new-build property: what the law says
A new-build project is not purchased in the same way as an older villa: legally, you are purchasing a work, and the regime is more protective — provided the timetable is observed.
Handover is the moment that matters. After delivery, the client must inspect its condition as soon as feasible according to the ordinary course of business, and report any defects. Either party may request, at its own expense, that the work be examined by experts and that a record be drawn up of their findings. On a project of this calibre — natural stone, pool, spa, home automation — this joint inspection is not a luxury: it is the document that will serve as evidence.
Silence amounts to acceptance. The law is explicit: “the work is deemed to have been tacitly accepted where the client fails to carry out the inspection and give the notice required by law”. And a defect that comes to light later must be reported as soon as it is discovered, failing which the work will be deemed accepted with that defect.
Five years, and several parties involved. The client’s rights generally become time-barred two years after handover — but after five years for a building structure, and this period applies both to the contractor and to the architect or engineer who worked on its execution. In the case of a structural defect, liability is not concentrated on a single name.
The unit share, the real key to a residence with communal areas
A residence with a park, secure access and shared facilities is also read through its thousandths — and these are not a floor area. The deed establishing the condominium ownership (PPE) sets out, in shares with a common denominator, the proportion of the value of the land that each unit represents. Two residences of comparable floor area may therefore carry different shares, and this is entirely normal.
The consequence is budgetary: co-owners contribute to communal charges and administration costs in proportion to the value of their shares. The law does, however, temper this — if certain parts, structures or installations are of very little or no use to certain co-owners, this is taken into account in the allocation. This is exactly what the condominium regulations govern, and it is the document to read before signing, together with the descriptive statement of division. The detail is in our article on floor areas and shares in PPE.
What Nautilus reveals about the market
Exceptional new-build property is the rarest unit in the Geneva market: in Cologny, new projects are counted by the decade, and each one is largely decided before it goes on public sale — the most sought-after typologies find buyers ahead of launch. Nautilus also illustrates a shift in the top end of the market that we are observing: faced with an ageing existing stock, exceptional buyers are favouring new-build developments to international standards, where the relationship between price and delivered quality is clear. That is precisely the wager of this project.
Visiting Nautilus, obtaining the file
The full presentation of the project — plans, specifications, availability — is on the Nautilus development page, and our other current developments complete the range of new-build property we market. Viewings are by appointment, in full confidentiality — write to us, and if your search in Cologny extends beyond new-build property, our buyer’s guide and our off-market previews open up the rest of the market. Technical terms are explained in the glossary.