Luegisland Housing Quarter, Gutenswil

Living in Luegisland means appreciating the landscape. With a privileged south-west orientation, two groups of buildings arranged like courtyards nestle on the gently sloping glacial hill. The design integrates into the landscape and establishes a phased volumetric ensemble. The buildings appear as faceted volumes that nestle into the topography and create informal spaces. Existing paths form the starting point for a finely meshed development that connects the new buildings with the village and the landscape and provides good access to all buildings. Each apartment participates in the atmospheric picture book of trees, niches and meeting places – both inside and through the balconies in front.

The clear floor plan structure ensures long-term flexibility. Separate secondary and tertiary systems enable individual expansion, specific maintenance and single-type demolition. The building services concept follows a low-tech approach. Thermally benign buildings form the basis and already meet most of the comfort requirements.
Instead of individual factors, the focus is on the interaction of all elements in the overall system. The participatory process and two-stage planning create the basis for a gentle transformation.

Credits
Project competition after prequalification, 1st prize 2025
Client: ALSA Pension Fund, Rapperswil-Jona
Architecture/overall management: BGP Architects ETH SIA BSA
Landscape architecture: Lorenz Eugster Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Zurich
Civil engineer and fire protection: B3 Kolb, Winterthur
Building physics and sustainability: EK Energiekonzepte, Zurich