Senior Center Sulgen

Sulgen Home for the Elderly

Approximately seventy senior citizens in need of care live in the Sulgen home for the elderly, plus the residents of the affiliated flats for the elderly. Most of the senior citizens living in the building use the restaurant and the common areas on the ground floor daily, and receive relatives, acquaintances and friends there. Susanne Fritz Architekten identified the typical problems of buildings that require large-scale renovation, such as energy deficiencies in the building envelope, lack of air conditioning, investment backlogs in fire protection, etc. The building was then renovated.

Together with the building owner, a renovation concept was developed, including a budget that was approved by the cooperative.

Apart from constructive and technical measures, the aim was to create a place with a completely new interior design that would be of great value to residents, visitors and staff. The winding floor plan was cleaned up and redesigned by Susanne Fritz Architekten so that more daylight can penetrate the building's interior and the rooms are open and clearly laid out. Daylight-enhancing lighting and a cheerful colour concept create lightness. The entrance and reception area becomes inviting and user-friendly for visitors as well as staff.

The furniture was adapted to the needs of older people and Susanne Fritz Architects researched materials suitable for the healthcare sector without making aesthetic compromises,

Inside, a surreal and narrative concept of a flowering garden with many details stimulates the imagination. Upside-down luminous tea cups on the ceiling quietly tell of the crazy tea party in Alice in Wonderland. Niches with curtains and reading corners create differentiated spaces of varying qualities of use. The design stimulates the senses and provides conversation material for residents and visitors.