Wild Bär Heule Architekten

Description

It is a paradox: a staircase that provides access to eight apartments per floor is actually very economical. And it is precisely this peculiarity of the new replacement building in Wallisellen that leads to added spatial and social value rather than restrictions, because the sculptural, spacious staircase becomes the meeting point for the new neighbours. When everyone moves a little closer, the result is more space for the community. Here, 27 two- and three-room apartments are oriented toward all points of the compass in the multi-stepped basic form. This creates varied arrangements inside the apartments, which are characterised by diagonal sight lines. The rooms are very efficiently laid out as a fluid circuit so that little space is wasted on circulation areas and the flats feel more generous than their square meterage would lead one to think. The bedroom is for example accessed via the bathroom. The apartment building, with its white skin, the play of light and shadow across the façades, the long folding metal shutters and the volume staggered at the corners, demonstrates in an exemplary way how it is possible to build in an urban agglomeration. The existing neighbouring building has been given a new entrance situation and thus also benefits from the innovative addition.