Through our design, we aim to establish the concept of an inner embedded garden as the guiding landscape idea for the new Leutschenbach quarter. By minimizing the building‘s footprint, we can create a generous open space that introduces a sense of distance between the new apartments – designated for elderly housing – and the heterogenous neighborhood, which is dominated by office-spaces.

The undulating façades contrast with the orthogonal lines of the surrounding area, embracing the quasi-natural aesthetics of the open landscape. A dynamic interplay between surfaces, volume, and vegetation anchors the design‘s almost ephemeral form, enabling a harmonious connection with the built environment. The vegetation shapes and defines thresholds, facilitating a seamless transition between public and private domains.

Much like a sculpture, the robust structure offers diverse perspectives and interpretations in terms of its spatial and volumetric arrangement. Delicately branching pathways of varying hierarchy weave a network of connections, linking the internal spaces to the surrounding neighborhood. Access to the building is conceived from the east, accommodating both residents and visitors. Courtyards interact with the two-story entrance halls, establishing a distinct focal point for the building while functioning as a communal gathering spot for the residents. The two-story communal areas, fitness room, and laundry facilities are interconnected by an inner promenade, inviting visitors to linger with its diagonally arranged rooms functioning as an extended access zone.

The majority of the apartments enjoy dual-sided orientations, providing diverse views and a poetic interaction with the changing seasons. This interaction is further heightened by the undulating façade, resulting in a myriad of visual perspectives. Equally crucial is the ambivalent nature of the loggia space: its geometry defines it as a private outdoor seating area, yet the loggias form a spatial continuum, encouraging neighborly proximity.

The diversity of typologies enables us to cater to the varied needs of the residents. In the more outwardly oriented apartment types, kitchens or living rooms face the communal loggia, allowing them to benefit from the evening sun in the west. Conversely, conventionally accessed apartments are aligned with the staircases, offering a more secluded living experience with the option to use the common areas as desired.