helsinkizurich . Ramser Schmid Architekten . photos: © Andreas Buschmann
The compact hybrid building, housing a parish center and apartments above, nestles on a narrow plot adjacent to the listed church. The project aims to establish a clear relationship between the parts of the ensemble, allowing the expressive church building to take center stage while the new structure remains in the background. The new building boasts a simple geometric design, stepping back from the nave. A low intermediate building with a new central entrance foyer bridges the two ensemble components. HZ emerged victorious in the 2016 design competition alongside Ramser Schmid and the project was realized in collaboration with Anderegg Partner.
The new building’s facade design mirrors the coarse trowel plaster of the existing church, maintaining the same color tone. The expansive floor-to-ceiling windows create an airy atmosphere in both communal areas and apartments. The arrangement of facade openings lends distinct appearances to the straightforward volume. A prominent facade faces the valley, while a slightly more understated one graces the slope side. Seen from the church’s entrance, the house stands tall due to its added height. The ample window layout in the community hall underscores the importance of the church’s communal spaces. Loggias on the apartments, facing Beckenhof Park, amplify the main facade’s character, in contrast to the more reserved presence along Kurvenstrasse.
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