St Peter & Paul Courthouse

St Peter & Paul Courthouse
© Philip Heckhausen

St Peter & Paul Courthouse 

Knorr & Pürckhauer Architekten

AREA
500 m²

YEAR
2020

COUNTRY
Zürich, Switzerland

MANUFACTURERS
Sky-Frame

TYPE DESIGN
M - D- Buero / Ramona Heiligensetzer

ARTWORK
Huber.Huber / Reto Huber

LIGHTING DESIGNERS
Mettler Partner Ag / Marc Dietrich

HOUSE AUTOMATION
Kalt + Halbeisen Ag, Daniel Raidt

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Ferrari Gartmann Ag / Patrick Gartmann

INSULATED SLIDING DOORS
Sky-Frame Classic

CONSTRUCTION SITE MANAGEMENT
Wt Partner Ag / Frits Dekker

CATEGORY
Retirement, Extension

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Marco Caviezel

Knorr & pürckhauer architekten has completed a new building in zurich, which is located in the courtyard of a perimeter block development.

St Peter & Paul Courthouse
© Philip Heckhausen
St Peter & Paul Courthouse
© Philip Heckhausen
St Peter & Paul Courthouse
© Philip Heckhausen

The architects explain that these types of structures are commonly found across the city with uses ranging from workshops, offices, and medical practices to studios or even art galleries.

This particular courtyard structure, located in zurich’s werd district, has been designed as an extension of a church’s retirement center.

Knorr & pürckhauer architekten, a firm led by philipp knorr and moritz pürckhauer, was asked to provide additional space for an existing retirement center run by the st. peter and paul parish church foundation.

St Peter & Paul Courthouse
© Philip Heckhausen
St Peter & Paul Courthouse
© Philip Heckhausen
St Peter & Paul Courthouse
© Philip Heckhausen

In addition, the new structure was seen as an opportunity to breathe new life into the courtyard as well as the surrounding neighborhood.

Inspired by max liebermann’s painting ‘biergarten in brannenburg’, the new building became the starting point for a comprehensive re-design of the courtyard.

Fences were removed, while a uniform gravel surface was applied to its surroundings.

St Peter & Paul Courthouse
© Philip Heckhausen
St Peter & Paul Courthouse
© Philip Heckhausen

Conceived as a neighborhood pavilion that serves the entire community, the new building comprises three stacked rooms that differ in terms of their appearance.

The glazed ground floor is intended as a versatile space for the residents of the retirement center, who are able to pursue their hobbies such as cooking, sewing, handicrafts, or flower arrangements. Floor-to-ceiling glazing ensures a close relationship with the adjacent courtyard.

St Peter & Paul Courthouse
© Philip Heckhausen
St Peter & Paul Courthouse
© Philip Heckhausen

Contained beneath a tent-like roof made from green pre-oxidized copper, the level above houses new offices for the client.

Large, circular windows fill the space with natural light, which is further emphasized thanks to bright, white surfaces.

St Peter & Paul Courthouse
© Philip Heckhausen
St Peter & Paul Courthouse
© Philip Heckhausen

Meanwhile, an auditorium is found in the basement with light entering through a semicircular skylight

All three rooms are connected with a spiral staircase, which links to the existing building in the basement.


St Peter & Paul Courthouse
Plan
St Peter & Paul Courthouse
Elevation


St Peter & Paul Courthouse
Plan