Architects: Rolf Mühlethaler Photography: Seraina Wirz Construction Period: 2025 Location: Langenthal, Switzerland
For generations, flowers were sold at the intersection of Wiesenstrasse and Schorenstrasse. Now, two greenhouses in the garden still recall the former use and local history. The all-wood-built gallery house extends along Wiesenstrasse, accommodating 25 rental apartments. The 2.5 to 5.5 room apartments are accessed via a continuous balcony with a private outdoor curtain buffer zone for each unit. This gallery access to the apartments promotes social interaction.
In keeping with the timber construction, the floor plan of the gallery house is characterized by a clear and pragmatic spatial structure: a direct entrance into the living and dining area, a central zone with a shower and storage space, and rooms oriented towards the garden.
The layered walls and ceilings easily meet the requirements for sound insulation, fire protection, and installation routing. Load-bearing facades and longitudinal walls handle the load transfer. The central space, arranged in the middle, acts as the core of the apartment, connecting all rooms. The modular floor plan organization allows for the creation of apartments of various sizes. Each apartment has a spacious veranda with positive effects on the activation (social security) of the outdoor spaces. The timber architecture forms the expressive yet calm framework, thereby conveying a touch of refinement and confident presence. The materials are used raw and without refinement, radiating the privilege of authenticity.
Read MoreFloor-to-ceiling, simply beautiful, double-leaf wooden windows allow light and warmth to fall on the seamless floor and also provide the necessary retreat in this urban context. Plants, hammocks, and furniture enliven the veranda architecture and lend the design lightness, homeliness, and comfort. Wooden separating elements between the verandas ensure privacy between the individual residential units. Outdoor curtains, with their fabric texture, give the private outdoor spaces a high recreational and residential value.
The heart of the outdoor space is formed by the two greenhouses with a well and sandbox. A large meadow stretches out next to them. Lushly planted flowerbeds punctually complete the overall picture. Along Wiesenstrasse, the street-typical planting is continued with a row of trees.
Text provided by the architects.
