Thomas Schlichting Architetto

Description

The project in Lugano addresses the challenges that arise when small plots hinder development. To optimise space, the planners agreed on a building contiguous with a neighbouring parcel, creating a communal garden. This fosters community and efficient land use. The intention of the project was also to promote a continuous frontage along the street side to give an urban character to a neighbourhood closely connected to the city centre. The decision was made to avoid providing living spaces and associated gardens on the ground floor in favour of offices as well as common rooms available to tenants. The main façade has no filters toward the public space, with which it establishes a direct relationship. The desire to densify the built-up area not only resonates from the urban planning point of view but is also reflected in the organisation of the apartments. Efforts were made to reevaluate the relationship between space and inhabitant, proposing apartments that are small in size yet can provide an optimal level of comfort through the careful design of space. Although the floor area of the apartments is compact, a central equipped core allows the clear definition of spaces. The interesting aspect of this typology is that, with open doors, it is possible to perceive the apartment in all its depth, increasing the light intake and giving the feeling of being in a much larger space.