Three typologically strongly related buildings of different heights form an ensemble and interweave the new retirement community with the heterogeneous surroundings and the landscape. Along Fellenbergstrasse and Langgrütstrasse, two lower extensions accompany the street spaces. They create an appropriate scale and leave the view of the Albis chain of hills unobstructed. Towards the centre of the site, the buildings form “heads” that create references to the existing trees and formally tie the three buildings together into a single unit. A concise and public focal point is established in the new arrangement. The significant tree population is largely preserved and supplemented with aspen and oak trees. All public and semi-public uses are arranged on the ground floor, as well as ground-floor apartments with direct access via the access walkway.
The majority of the 155 apartments are 2.5-room apartments. They are organised around a central zone with kitchen, bathroom and cloakroom and are oriented east-west. On the courtyard side, there is a generous entrance and dining area with direct access to the communal loggia, which is each shared by two apartments. In the heads and on the street side across the corner, the staircases are organised as multiple flights. These apartments are also oriented on two sides via corner windows and are characterised by their proximity to the treetops and views into the open spaces. All apartments benefit from access to a communal loggia as well as to an individual outdoor space to the east or west.
The new buildings respond to the heterogeneous surroundings with a natural restraint that is nevertheless reminiscent of buildings from the surrounding garden city suburb. A filigree wooden structure vertically divides the facade. On the ground floor, the wooden supports leading downwards accompany the pergola. This motif is reminiscent of the listed building of Espenhof South opposite, and encloses the courtyard space at the heart of the site.
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