Extension clinic Hohenegg Meilen, 2014

Both the original structure created by Rittmeyer & Furrer and the buildings along the paved central axis create a spatial density with the character of a small town or hamlet. Here, on an extraordinary location on the slope high above Lake Zurich and with a view of the Alps, an unforgettable place had been developed at the beginning of the 20th century. It still mirrors the modern therapy concept in its buildings and outdoor areas. This self-contained, historic facility was adapted and extended to new, modern needs. Rittmeyer & Furrer’s principle was brought one step further; two new buildings now complete the pavilion concept. The construction took place in several stages. Castlings allow for an optimisation of the utilisation and a clear separation of the areas living, therapy, dining, sociability and administration. Diverse renovation measures of later interventions and reinterpretations, not only in landscaping, created a new, naturally looking ensemble. Important themes of the historic buildings were taken over at the new reception building, but in an exaggerated, distorted and reinterpreted way. There was neither a break with the past, nor a historicising further construction. Reception, dining area for the patients and their guests as well as administration were placed under the large, pulled down ceiling. The physiotherapy building is a prefabricated wooden structure. An unsupported, light-flooded room was created with the help of a specific static construction. The newly built courtyard connects the pre-existing and new construction and creates a unique atmosphere on the far side of the lake. The utilisation, too, merges both constructions, since there are also therapy rooms in the old building. The new buildings have their very own expression and blend perfectly into the entire facility; they follow the craftsmanship of the pre-existing buildings regarding their materialisation.

> Phase 2: Remodelling of clinic Honegg