

Dorschner Kahl Architects and Heine Mildner Architects have collaborated on Andreasgärten, a multi-generational housing scheme in Erfurt that integrates assisted residing for the aged with the broader group.
Located subsequent to the fortress city of Zitadelle Petersberg within the metropolis of Erfurt, Germany, the Andreasgärten housing improvement consists of a trio of three-storey rectangular buildings organized round a communal backyard.

Social-welfare organisation Johanniter Unfallhilfe commissioned German studios Dorschner Kahl Architects and Heine Mildner Architects to design a housing mission with residing preparations that might go well with folks of all ages.
Andreasgärten contains 65 one-bedroom, 24 two-bedroom and three three-bedroom residences unfold evenly throughout the three buildings, in addition to two assisted residing communities on the bottom flooring of two buildings and a kindergarten in an current constructing.

The studios additionally added a remedy centre that gives social and medical providers, a multipurpose group room and a chapel to encourage interplay between the residents.
“The neighbourhood gives spatial and programmatic situations for coexistence and social change amongst folks of various ages and social backgrounds,” Dorschner Kahl Architects co-founder Adrian Dorschner instructed Dezeen.
“The kindergarten and assisted residing group cowl an entire life span – basically, it’s doable to dwell within the Andreasgärten in any respect phases of life, from childhood to outdated age.”

Entrances to the buildings have been positioned on the elevations going through the communal backyard to advertise communication between residents, whereas lined walkways wrap the perimeter of every flooring degree.
“The veranda defines the architectural expression of the three residential buildings and serves as a hyperlink between non-public residing areas and the semi-public courtyard of the multigenerational neighbourhood,” mentioned Dorschner Kahl Architects and Heine Mildner Architects.
“It additionally acts as a communication area between the buildings throughout the courtyard, extending the inside area outward.”

The assisted residing communities comprise 10 rooms designed as non-public retreats for the residents, which they will personalise with their very own alternative of furnishings.
Communal areas, a shared kitchen and an assigned out of doors space for the assisted residing communities present area for socialising.

“Assisted residing and aged people not need to dwell alone,” mentioned Dorschner. “In these communities, a number of folks of comparable age dwell collectively in a shared setting, requiring care however nonetheless valuing privateness and independence.”
“As a part of the bigger Andreasgärten mission, the assisted residing communities are built-in into the group’s on a regular basis life, relatively than being remoted, making them an integral a part of residing and thriving in Andreasgärten,” he added.
Constructed on prime of an underground automotive park, the three residential buildings have a hybrid development of strengthened concrete cores with masonry on the bottom flooring and cross-laminated timber partitions.
“Solely the areas obligatory for hearth security and structural causes, similar to the bottom flooring and staircases, have been designed with strong supplies, whereas the higher flooring have been constructed utilizing wooden,” Dorschner mentioned.
“This led to a major discount in weight, permitting for substantial materials financial savings within the flooring slab above the underground storage on which the buildings are located.”

The structure studios additionally reworked a former carriage home subsequent to the Zitadelle Petersberg fortress wall right into a kindergarten for 111 youngsters.
The brick constructing was given a wood extension, with a veranda designed as an “architectural mediator” between the prevailing construction and the brand new residential buildings.
“The adaptive reuse of the historic constructing honours each the sustainable method of the brand new neighbourhood and the historical past of the placement,” mentioned Dorschner.

Dorschner Kahl Architects and Heine Mildner Architects labored with panorama architect Michael Simonsen on the mission’s landscaping.
The communal backyard on the centre of the housing scheme is related to current pedestrian paths, making a semi-public area planted with fruit timber, giant shrubs and perennials.

In line with Dorschner, for the reason that residents have moved into the event the verandas and the communal backyard have turn out to be in style assembly areas for neighbours.
“I seen many interactions among the many residents within the backyard and between the homes by means of the loggias, which have been deliberately designed with out bodily boundaries between the residences,” he mentioned.

“It is heartwarming to witness how the residents of the assisted residing communities actively take part in social life regardless of restricted mobility,” Dorschner added.
“Their ground-floor residing areas instantly connect with the backyard by means of floor-to-ceiling home windows, the place they sit and interact in conversations with different residents or passersby.”
Different social housing tasks featured on Dezeen embrace a low-cost housing mission in Los Angeles with scalloped facades and social housing in Amsterdam with stepped balconies overlooking the waterfront.
The images is by Philip Heckhausen.