A groundbreaking residential building in Zurich's centrally located Enge district has successfully created an innovative living arrangement that brings together seniors and students under one roof. The five-story building, designed by local firm Loeliger Strub Architektur, features 17 compact apartments specifically designed for residents aged 65 and older, along with shared community spaces that foster intergenerational interaction.
The project, known as "Alterswohnen" (Senior Living), was commissioned by the Walder Foundation and stands prominently on Waffenplatzstrasse, replacing the former residential and work building of the foundation's founding couple. The new structure deliberately stands out among the neighborhood's traditional period buildings with its bold architectural statement featuring red shading elements, light gray fiber cement panels, and dark blue window frames that create striking color contrasts across the facade.
The building's distinctive design elements include a lantern-like attic structure, a street-facing bay window, and strategically placed windows that either wrap around building corners or form continuous bands, creating varied and dynamic exterior views. Behind this eye-catching exterior lies a hybrid construction system combining a solid reinforced concrete circulation core with timber framing, demonstrating modern sustainable building practices.
The residential units span five floors and include apartments ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 rooms, with living spaces between 34 and 58 square meters. Each floor is carefully planned to maximize both privacy and community interaction. A ground-floor community room and a shared top floor featuring a large communal kitchen, rooftop terrace, and laundry facilities significantly expand the available space for residents and encourage social activities.
What makes this project particularly innovative is its deliberate intergenerational mix. The first floor houses a 5.5-room shared apartment specifically designed for students, creating natural opportunities for interaction between different age groups. Additionally, two commercial spaces on the ground floor are rented to external tenants, adding further diversity to the building's daily life and contributing to the neighborhood's economic vitality.
The architectural design prioritizes flexibility and functionality, particularly in the street-facing apartments. These units feature chambered floor plans where living and sleeping areas can be flexibly connected through wide folding doors and via the bathroom spaces. When the bathroom's double doors are opened, the shower and toilet disappear behind them, creating a wide passage that transforms the spatial experience and allows for multiple living configurations.
Compact built-in kitchens are strategically positioned within the large glazed bay windows, bringing cooking activities into the street view and fostering a sense of connection with the neighborhood. This design choice reflects a broader philosophy of opening private life to the community while maintaining appropriate privacy boundaries.
In the rear section of the building, continuous window bands characterize the apartments, creating bright, airy living spaces. Cleverly positioned passageways ensure openness throughout these units and enable residents to move through their apartments in a circular pattern, maximizing the sense of space in these compact homes. Small balconies at the rear building corners extend living space toward the interior courtyard, providing private outdoor areas for residents.
The project represents a forward-thinking approach to urban housing challenges, addressing both the needs of an aging population and the housing shortage for students. By creating structured opportunities for intergenerational interaction while respecting the independence and privacy needs of all residents, the building serves as a model for future urban development projects that seek to strengthen community bonds across age groups.
