Housing, nursing and healthcare under one roof

Zentrum Biffig in Schötz is a modern residential and nursing facility that offers older people a wide range of care options. In addition to 60 nursing places and 14 retirement apartments, the centre bundles various inpatient and outpatient healthcare services under one roof. Designed by MMJS Jauch-Stolz Architekten, the new building combines bright, inviting rooms with clear functionality. An open room concept and sophisticated interior design create a harmonious balance between homeliness and modern infrastructure. The steel profile systems from Forster used in the building meet all the necessary requirements in terms of transparency, safety and accessibility.

A centre for quality of life and a sense of community

With Zentrum Biffig, the municipality of Schötz in the canton of Lucerne is responding to the demographically driven increase in demand for integrated care and support services for the elderly. Designed by MMJS Jauch-Stolz Architekten, the result is a modern residential and nursing facility that combines contemporary functionality with a welcoming ambience. At the heart of the building is a central atrium on the ground floor, which acts as a kind of village square. It promotes encounters and exchanges between the residents while also providing space for cultural events. On the upper floors, the nursing rooms and retirement apartments face outwards to the front, so that access is made via the corridors facing the inner courtyard. These are designed in such a way that they lead around the building in a closed circuit instead of leading to dead ends – this solution allows residents with dementia in particular to find their way around safely and intuitively.

Openness and transparency

A large glass facade measuring 230 square metres faces the inner courtyard. It supports orientation within the building, provides visual connections to the other floors and creates a bright, inviting atmosphere throughout the building. The glazing and closures with profile systems from Forster play a decisive role here: Thanks to the narrow face widths of just 45 millimetres, the mullion/transom constructions with forster thermfix vario EI60 allow daylight to penetrate deep into the building on all floors. This is all without compromising on robustness and fall protection with the glass panels weighing over 240 kilograms. With a sound insulation factor of Rw 48 decibels, the glazing combined with the installed fire-resistant doors with forster fuego light EI30/EI60 (45/47 dB) significantly reduces disturbances between the corridors, common areas and residents’ rooms. Last but not least, the robust profile systems made from 100% steel contribute to the desired calm atmosphere and well-being of the residents.

Barrier-free fire protection

At Zentrum Biffig, the safety and protection of residents are paramount. Fire protection was therefore implemented consistently with the forster fuego light profile system: Single-leaf and double-leaf fire resistant doors as well as fixed glazing with certified protection classes EI30 and EI60 guarantee the required fire safety in central areas as well as the closures of the stairwells and common areas. The restaurant on the ground floor is also equipped with an automatic fire protection sliding door with forster fuego light EI30, which also ensures barrier-free access for people with limited mobility.

A role model for modern living in old age

With Zentrum Biffig, the municipality of Schötz has created a pioneering model for age-appropriate housing that combines social integration and modern construction in an exemplary way. The new building replaces the former Mauritiusheim nursing home at the same location and shows how well-thought-out architecture, high-quality materials and technical precision merge into a harmonious overall concept. The use of profile systems from Forster underscores the project’s ambition to implement sophisticated design and functional requirements down to the last detail in such a way that quality of life, safety and a sense of community are promoted.

Schötz, Switzerland

Products:

Mullion/transom facade in atrium with forster thermfix vario

forster fuego light EI30 sliding door

Single-leaf and double-leaf fire resistant doors with forster fuego light EI30/60

forster fuego light EI30/60 fixed glazing

Architecture: MMJS Jauch-Stolz Architekten AG, Lucerne, Switzerland

Metal construction: Huber Kontech AG, Buttisholz, Switzerland

Client: Biffig AG, Schötz, Switzerland

Photography: Damian Poffet