ARGE Joos & Mathys Architekten / Schmid Schärer Architekten: Haus der Demenz Bombach - best architects 20

ARGE Joos & Mathys Architekten / Schmid Schärer Architekten

Haus der Demenz Bombach

best architects 20

public buildings

Place

Zurich, Switzerland

Photos

Andreas Buschmann

Description

The new «Haus der Demenz» is a low building that forms the eastern boundary of the existing park and which is in a dialectic relationship with the tower-like main building of the care home, dating from the 1960s. A shape formed by two narrow wings of different height holds the park in an encircling embrace, but still largely retains its generous dimensions. The wings enclose a sunken courtyard which turns the basement, open to the valley side, into a fully-fledged residential floor. This courtyard, framed by a circular path/access route, forms the atmospheric heart of the building. The arrangements are complemented by apartments on the upper floors of the slope side that attractively look onto the garden.