Rest home, Novazzano, Switzerland 1992-1997

Project: 1992
Construction: 1995-1997
Client: Rest home Consortium, local authorities of Genestrerio, Ligornetto, Novazzano
Site area: 6’448 m²
Useful surface: 3’271 m²
Volume: 16’577 m³

On a slight slope, overlooking the urbanized landscape of the plain of Mendrisio, the building takes the form of a low cylinder clad in brick and open towards the landscape. The tall portico is slightly raised from the ground compared to the circular wall. At the middle of the colonnaded perimeter, the entrance provides access to a vast central space, leading on the ground floor to the rehabilitation rooms and the common areas, such as the dining room and the chapel. Apart from the ground floor, the building develops on two more levels with the rooms arranged radially around the circulation path which expands to form an open living room overlooking the void of the central hall. The emptying out of the central core of the cylinder creates an inner courtyard. A space sheltered by the extended vaults of the metal roof structure continues the central volume, connected to the garden by a system of ramps and stairs modeled in the sloping ground.