Description
In 1999, the Red Cross in Luxembourg organised an architectural competition for the design of residential accommodation for 100 old people with all the necessary associated care and service facilities for everyday life. In addition, the CIPA (Centre intégré pour personnes âgées) needed to fit into the structure of the village of Junglinster and maximise interactions with its surroundings at all levels.
The winning design by Witry & Witry architects and Jim Clemes follows the topography of the site, a meadow that falls away gradually. The three-storey wings to the west and north therefore adjoin the Rue Rham, while both of the two-storey larch-clad residential wings look southwards over orchards along the banks of the River Ernz Noire, a scenery typical for the region.
Separated into four sections, the complex offers successive degrees of privacy: beginning with the public entrance area at street level on the Rue Rham, progressing via the restaurant, café, multi-purpose hall and small shops to the privacy of the clearly-designed residential wings, with their cheerful red-orange window jambs. The integrative concept also extends to the roof gardens on the residential wings – thematically grouped according to colours and aromas derived from the surrounding orchards – which can also be reached from street level.
Stairs and lifts allow visitors to reach the semi-public areas in the west wing, which is arranged parallel to the residential wings. This wing houses medical services on the second floor and social and geriatric day-care facilities at garden level. Further services and facilities are also contained in the north wing.
The residential wings are divided into four independently organised units and provide accommodation for both healthy and active elderly residents as well as those suffering from dementia. The common rooms in the centre of each level are designed as small, modern living rooms for residents and visitors to meet, talk and be together. Throughout the complex, especially where paths cross and different areas meet, small squares and seating niches provide additional semi-private places to meet, rest and enjoy the view.
Drawings
Photos
Exterior view of the residential wing clad in larch
Interior view of the communal space with a view of the surrounding village
Originally published in: Eckhard Feddersen, Insa Lüdtke, Living for the Elderly: A Design Manual, Birkhäuser, 2011.