St. Bernadette’s Neighborhood

Relationships between groups have different scales. Within one street you will find dozens of houses. Within one neighborhood, you build hundreds of housing units. But just the “smallest” scale unit is the crucial link in perception. The feeling of having a “close” neighbor nearby is very special. Two entrance doors together form a porch. Together with 7 houses/apartments, for example, you will occupy a residential yard/patio.

Unity and diversity

We were inspired by the strong architectural tradition found in the first garden districts. The key concept is unity in diversity. Within the same image, all homes differ subtly from one another through minor variations in masonry, joinery or facade layout. This harmonious interaction between unity and diversity was seen as necessary for the construction of a new social environment, in which residents belong to a community and yet would be able to develop their own individuality. Within this design, our ambition is to find a new meaning and balance in collectivity, a concept that enjoys renewed interest within our society.

Building grain and ensemble

We seek a balance where both the overall scale of building form and the separate residential unit are legible.
The project is composed of both “collective housing buildings” and “row houses. In both building sections, the length of the ranges is accompanied by an elongated gable roof, and the corners are accented with a “tower-like” volume. Thus we mark the overall shape and length of the residential buildings.

Facade language and privacy degree

An important theme is the relationship between public and private. On the one hand, each residence enjoys sufficient privacy; on the other hand, it is the moments of contact that give residents the opportunity to also occupy the public domain (in a controlled manner).