One House, Many Homes

The proposal comprehends that the current building anchors landscape and sensitively responds by using the existing footprint as a starting point. This serves a dual purpose: first, the landscape becomes the driver of design with minimal changes made to the topography; second, the memory of the old structure is preserved while enhancing the architecture’s relationships with the context.

The building footprint is extended to the south to complete the courtyard and fulfill the programmatic requirements. The courtyard becomes a means to welcome the environs inside –creating an inner sanctuary. The new building is proposed around this courtyard garden. It is lined with glazed galleries on all sides and is accessible from the east and the west. To complement the park-like landscape of the site, the inner courtyard is envisioned as a garden with seasonal trees and flowers.

The ground floor houses all the public parts of the program. The residential units are accommodated on the upper floors on the north, south and the western arms with a continuous circulation loop around the courtyard. The basement houses all the utility spaces like the laundry rooms, offices, and administrative spaces.

Each apartment has individual balconies and the glazed sun-lit corridor around the courtyard becomes the threshold between the inside and outside. It doubles up as a warm, habitable, semi-private space and acquires an intimate character. The private balconies in the western arm open to the vistas of the landscape and the lake beyond.

The modular arrangement of the rooms determines the grid-based organisation of the building, making sure that structural elements don’t impede the internal circulation. The basement is proposed in concrete whereas the upper floors are proposed in wood. Reclaimed material from the existing building can be recycled and used, preserving memories of the original building. Natural materials combined with local construction skills, natural ventilation, energy efficiency, and other features help reduce the building’s carbon footprint.

The proposed assisted living facility prioritises independence and aims to instil a sense of agency within the residents. A level ground floor, communal spaces, and diversity in layouts and configurations are some ways the project encourages autonomy. It creates the possibility of a sheltered yet independent life for the elderly – to comfortably navigate this new chapter of the journey.

 


Kusnacht assisted living (One House, Many Homes) | date : 2023 | location : Wangensbach, Switzerland | surface : 1.650 m2 | team : Madhusudhan Chalasani, Jesús Garrido, Tanvi Jain, Vamsi Krishna, Arif, Reshma Esther Thomas, Chanda Patel | client : Municipality of Kusnacht | status : competition