In the Heart of Community

Timeless and distinctive new building for assisted living and care

In the heart of the garden city Arlinger, a new building with an important social facility complements a community that has existed for nearly 100 years. In immediate proximity to the Matthäuskirche, designed by Egon Eiermann in the 1950s, Peter W. Schmidt Architekten created a new structure for assisted living and care. The architects conceived the building volume in a way that establishes a distinctive landmark within its urban context while embracing the scale and character of the surrounding development.

Two outward-curving building wings with elegant narrow ends echo the rhythm of the street and surrounding structures. Where they approach each other most closely, a central interstitial space emerges. Along the facades, this space expands toward the north and south. A light-filled atrium connects all three stories and enables intuitive orientation upon entering the building. The atrium exemplifies how natural daylight serves as an indirect wayfinding tool. The generous staircase likewise sits within the daylit joint of the building's form. The interstitial space accommodates all service functions—a configuration with clear advantages: it ensures short distances and quick access for care staff while optimizing circulation area. The slender residential wings house only resident rooms with private bathrooms. All rooms face either east or west, ensuring that residents benefit from natural light. The "living rooms" assigned to care groups are oriented openly toward the surroundings. Views in and out connect residents, both literally and figuratively, with the vibrant garden city.

The straightforward and memorable floor plan typology ensures clear orientation throughout the building. In developing the design, careful consideration was given to using few materials—those that age gracefully and possess strong tactile qualities. Inside, the choice fell on untreated timber surfaces, extending to large-scale wooden window constructions. The two-wythe masonry with its brick facing shell lends fine articulation to this large structure within its urban context. Meticulously crafted details bestow the building with a timeless and distinctive character.

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