The housing cooperative Graphis announced a competition for a new development according to MINERGIE-P-ECO standards with in total 39 apartments on a location in Aarau-Rohr, Switzerland, an area, which is a typical example for suburban sprawl shaped by its detached houses and its introverted atmosphere.
With great sensitivity the design makes use of a point-shaped building type to integrate the resulting volumes into the context. Lower extensions on four to five storey higher parts of the buildings transform the latter into L-shapes. The arrangement of these three clearly defines and energises the exterior spaces between the houses.
Every building is designed with four to five units per floor arranged around a central staircase. The rooms of all apartments are organized along meandering open space sequences of hall, kitchen and living room. Thus, despite their very efficient layouts, they generate an exceptional spatial generosity.
The simple, rational facades with large square windows and an offset plinth underline the proportions of the volumes and establish references to the neighbouring buildings.
