Borna-Park
At Borna-Park, life and work are intimately intertwined with the landscape. The site is surrounded by meadows, open fields, and the tree-lined Pfaffneren river. Nature provides more than a mere backdrop – it becomes the identity of the residential and working community.
The new development consists of a residential building and a workshop, specifically designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Together, they create a safe and supportive environment for the daily lives of the residents. The two buildings stand freely in the landscape, connected by gently curving paths through a generous park. For the residents, the walk between home and workshop is not only an essential part of their daily routine but also a source of daily sensory experiences through weather and nature.
The residential building consists of two units, connected at the ground and basement levels. The ground floor houses the public and communal spaces – dining hall with catering kitchen, cafeteria – as well as the administration. Oak wood furniture, suspended acoustic elements, and polished concrete floors create an atmosphere that appears both representative and welcoming.
On the upper floors, the residential groups are organized as open, continuous sequences of spaces with cozy living and dining areas. Community thus becomes an integral part of daily life. A warm color palette in the floors and carpentry in combination with the exposed wood and concrete surfaces, create a cohesive and inviting atmosphere.
The workshop building is conceived as a two-story hall structure in timber construction. It`s floor plan is divided into three functional segments, with a large, double-height storage hall at its center – both architecturally and functionally serving as a transitional zone between the different workshop areas. A distinctive shed roof floods the hall and the upper floor with daylight and supports a photovoltaic system the size of a football field.
Inside, the structural framework of beech wood defines the space. In combination with the openly routed technical installations, it creates a direct and robust expression. Generous interior glazing establishes multiple visual connections between the workshop areas, allowing daylight from the shed roof to penetrate deep into the rooms while also providing optimal conditions for staff supervision.
