Text description provided by the architects. The existing apartment and commercial building dating from 1900 was part of a protected building ensemble situated in the city center. The task was to converse this building. During an extensive analysis of said building’s structure, planners determined that the historical structure was in a poor state.

Courtesy of Gautschi Lenzin Schenker Architects

The committee for urban design and the committee of preservation of historical buildings in the county agreed that a new building is the appropriate solution.

The design was based on the idea that the new building should continue to be part of the existing ensemble, which was a set of three attached houses.

Courtesy of Gautschi Lenzin Schenker Architects

The characteristics of the ensemble is the horizontal arrangement, the sectioning into three parts; base, middle and roof section and the mural openings in the facade with standing window formats. The typologies were included and interpreted in a contemporary fashion. The structuring of the building happens through outward shifted offsets.

Courtesy of Gautschi Lenzin Schenker Architects

The facade made of insulation concrete, a material of one substance only, offers a constructive analogy toward the existing buildings. Untreated timber windows and slender pull out blinds complement this reserved, high quality and noble appearance.

Courtesy of Gautschi Lenzin Schenker Architects

The lower ground which receives light via skylights, and the ground floor will be used for gastronomy. The upper floors can easily be sectioned and will therefore be used for commercial purposes. The top floors contain two apartments.

Courtesy of Gautschi Lenzin Schenker Architects

• Architects

  Gautschi Lenzin Schenker Architects

• Location

  Bahnhofstrasse, 5000 Aarau, Switzerland

• Category

  Apartments

• Project Year

  2017