La Maison du jardin
The Project “La Maison du Jardin” for the foundation Perceval is situated in a park with different buildings creating a campus. Most of them are characterised by an irregular geometry and anthroposophical architecture.
The building site for “the Maison du jardin” is located at the north-western Edge of the park with direct access from the street. The construction perimeter was set to keep the existing garden in the south and to densify the north-eastern corner.
The fragmented geometry of the project is the result of the different views and orientations for the diverse uses of the building. Unfolding to the south and defining a collective exterior space at the ground floor, while offering exceptional views to the lake Geneva from the rooms in the first floor, the large pitched roof is the result of the construction regulations from the village. The geometry helps to fix the building to the site and establish a dialogue with the surrounding.
The “Maison du Jardin” is designed for elderly people with physical and psychological disabilities. The Perceval foundation aims to offer its residents a place as close as possible to a real home where they can live in community, but at the same time having the required privacy.
The project reflects the foundation’s desire and is based on the idea of three independent elements linked by a common space on the ground floor. Access is gained from the northeast corner onward to the continuous space that extends throughout the building, offering a variety of uses such as a cafeteria, lounge and reading area. A large glazed façade opens the ground floor common-space to the south allowing permeability to the outside, the terrace and the garden.
The different parts of the building are articulated throughout this space: the south-eastern area offers to the residents ateliers, while the western part of the building is separated for the administration. The northern part contains the services and access to the apartments in the roof.
Each one of the three residential units has its own staircase, which is accessible from the common space. They are conceived as empty voids with sculptural elements casting the adjoining spaces in an intense light.
On the first floor, the plan layout offers orientation and views towards the exterior, while avoiding endless circulations. In this way, the staircase volume is located to provide a central access and articulates the space into two wings creating two different subgroups.
The space generated under the roof is turned into apartments and small rental studios, thus making use of the extra volume and allowing additional resources for the foundation.
The project works with local materials that draw a calm and quiet picture in the large garden. For the façades the use of vertical wooden slats reinforce the geometry of the volume. The windows and loggias punch the volume, conferring plasticity and framing the views from the inside. The entrances cut into the volume offer great permeability with the exterior and mark the entrances to the building.
Inside, the exposed concrete of the structure is combined with oak carpentry and furniture. The flooring on each level is picked to differentiate each unit and to allow the residents to identify the different environments.
In the common spaces on the ground floor hexagonal terracotta are used. Extended to the pavement on the outside a strong connection between the garden and the indoor environment is established.
In the apartments, the materials reveal themselves and create a neutral space, where the geometry of the roof and the views to the outside are the main impressions.
