MICHAEL MEIER UND MARIUS HUG ARCHITEKTEN
Architects: Michael Meier und Marius Hug Architekten AG
Photos by: Roman Keller
Typology: Apartments for elderly people
Location: Wangen-Brüttisellen
Date: 2012 – 2014
The village center of Wangen is an exception in the settlement area of Glatttal, which is dominated by infrasturctural buildings. The rural atmosphere of the historic village and the wide meadows and fruit trees in the west are the characterising qualities of the site. East of the plot there is a garden village from the 1960’s. With its generous green outdoor spaces it is a typical urbanistic structure of its time.
Along with a wide range of different services the residence for elderly provides a common room. In combination with the outdoor space the common room forms the key significance of the structure both for the residents and the community.
The volume is arranged as an angled, four-storey building along Brüttisellenstrasse. On the one hand it strengthens the urban space at the crossing of Brütisellen- and Dübendorfstrasse and on the other hand it creates an outdoor space between the building and Dübendorfstrasse, that develops deep into the plot.
This collective space forms the heart of the residential community promoting the community spirit. It also holds the main access to the building.
Through the sequencing of the elevation and the set back attic floor the building fits in well with the scale of its environment.
The wooden paneling is reminiscent of the old barns in the surrounding and it embeds the building in the agricultural context, whereas the treatment and the joining of the panels lend the building an appropriate architectural expression for its use.