Knorr & Pürckhauer Architekten

Description

The site for the new building of the Roman Catholic parish foundation of St. Peter and Paul is located in Zurich’s densely built District 4, which derives its present character from the block perimeter development dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A simple building volume was proposed that continues the characteristic features of the neighbourhood: representative street façades with articulated base floors, planar and horizontally structured façades, as well as a functional internal organisation with staircases facing the courtyard. The resulting structure closes the gap between the Wilhelminian-era building at Werdgässchen 25 and the retirement home. Residents enter the building via two entrances on Werdgässchen and arrive in spacious entrance halls with visual connections to the light-filled stair flights. Two identical staircases allow for a compact and clear organisation. On the typical floor, the northern staircase provides access to two senior apartments with generous entrance areas. This area integrates functional built-ins and forms the hinge of the diagonal spatial configuration between the kitchen-living area in the north and the living room in the south. Two balconies per apartment emphasise use across the entire building depth and allow for different living arrangements. An additional connection between the bedroom and the kitchen creates a small circular route, which conveys a sense of spaciousness despite the limited floor area.