kit
Rosenthal Health Centre
best architects 24
public buildings
Place
Wald, Switzerland
Studio
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.