Between the church and the village street lies the plot designated for a new senior center in Siviriez, Canton of Fribourg. The central location and the size of the site highlight the importance of this place in the village’s community life and call for a sensitive approach to the task. Within the small-scale built environment, a relatively large volume is to be created.

The transparent façade design facing the courtyard creates a strong visual connection and enhances orientation. The communal areas feature large sliding windows that open up to the courtyard garden. The open, barrier-free cafeteria on the ground floor connects the courtyard, entrance, and terrace. Freestanding, space-defining furniture structures the reception area and the more intimate dining room.


As a strategy, the design draws on the typical historical farmhouse, which conceals its mass with its evolved and varied roof shapes. The proven courtyard typology is complemented by specific volumetric accents that respond to urban, topographical, and organizational challenges. These elements define the various entrances (residents/visitors, day center, and staff/delivery) and provide two-story common rooms on the upper floors with views of the surrounding landscape.

Data and credits
Competition
2016
Project start
2017
Construction start
2021
Completion
2024
Gross floor area
6’300 m²
Accreditation
Minergie
Client
Reseau Santé de la Glâne
Architect
Atelier Prati Zwartbol
Project team
Estelle Bertholet, Gregory Bon, Clara Jacazio, Martin Lepoutre, Lea Prati, Nadia Sanchez-Martin, Tieme Zwartbol
Competition team
Lea Prati, Nadia Sanchez-Martin, Tieme Zwartbol
Executive architect
Atelier Prati Zwartbol
Landscape architect
Studio Boden
General contractor
Ropraz
Site supervision
Deillon Delley Architectes
Signage and wayfinding
Melina Wilson
Selected Publications
Tracés, Lignum Holzbulletin