kit: Rosenthal Health Centre - best architects 24

kit

Rosenthal Health Centre

best architects 24

public buildings

Place

Wald, Switzerland

Photos

Ruedi Walti

Description

In the heritage-protected core of the municipality of Wald in Canton Zurich, between the village centre, the railway station and the parish church, the new Rosenthal Health Centre unites the facilities of the Drei Tannen Foundation under one roof and anchors them in the village. In terms of size, the new building is oriented on the existing manufactories from the heyday of textile production. The three staggered sections respond to the varying scales and orientations of the setting and create varied outdoor spaces. A façade of blasted concrete elements borrows its colour from the neighbouring buildings. Like a skin, it covers the compact volume and creates a nuanced play of shadows. In dialogue with the site topography, the gently rising roof form subtly echoes the surrounding hilly landscape. The entrance is located in the principal wing, which faces the railway station. In addition to the resident areas on the ground floor, this wing contains a mix of uses including administration, home care services, a medical centre and flats for the elderly. The residential and care areas are arranged floor by floor around two atriums in the other parts of the building. Like the network of paths in an old town, the corridors regularly expand to form meeting points or places of retreat. The floor plan and load-bearing structure were designed to ensure a sustainable service life so that the building can withstand many changes in use over time. The building conforms to the ECO Standard and has Minergie certification.