Layered Caring

The film Four Mothers follows Edward, a man in his mid-thirties who cares for his mother, Alma, at home. When his friends leave their mothers with him before a vacation, Edward suddenly has to care for four elderly women. While he follows his own needs and continues his work as a writer, the women begin to support each other and form a network of mutual care.

In Zurich, elderly care by family members, volunteers, or nonprofit organizations constitutes a significant part of the care network. In neighborhood assistence associations, half of the volunteers are over 55. Data also shows that 30% of nursing home residents live in institutions not due to medical needs but because of limited affordable housing and lack of daily social interaction. Voluntary engagement and caregiving therefore provide not only practical support but also a sense of purpose and belonging.

The «Nachbarschaftshilfe» in Höngg-Wipkingen connects care recievers and caregivers through tandem projects and offers a social infrastructure that fosters community. Regular meetings, dinners, and apéros allow volunteers to exchange experiences and benefit from shared interests.

At the Hardturm parking garage, a senior community is created that combines co- living with a volunteer hub. Most of the garage is preserved. By shifting the ramp the building gets reorientated and an inner street mixed with parking spaces that accommodates the care network is created. This turns the functional traffic space into a livable urban environment, enabling spontaneous encounters and facilitating everyday transport services.

Compact apartments host one, two, or three residents, serving as private retreats. Multi-use rooms with varying degrees of privacy mediate between living areas and the street. Shared learning spaces encourage knowledge exchange and can host lectures, events, and workshops, strengthening social life in the building. Additional rooms may serve as therapy spaces or small neighborhood shops and pharmacies, providing accessible everyday services.

On the ground floor, the building opens up to the public: a workshop for repairs, a library, a café, and an information center for volunteers take place. Meeting rooms and offices support both the association’s administration and community events.

Another aspect of the design is the conscious use of glass, which is conceived not only as a separating element but also as a dynamic filter whose properties can change over time. The conventional multi-layered window is deconstructed and forms a complex mediation system between inside and outside. Double facades, extended intermediate zones, and combined glazing create spatial sequences that generate differentiated lighting conditions, atmospheric effects, and visual relationships.

Through the combination of private, communal and public spaces, the Hardturm parking garage becomes a lively, inclusive place that promotes autonomy, social interaction, and mutual care.

Project by: Theresa Zuhr

Teaching team: Teaching team: Anna Puigjaner, Dafni Retzepi, Ethel Baraona Pohl, Pol Esteve Castelló, Lisa Maillard, He Shen, He Yufei. In collaboration with BUK.

Master Thesis: Autumn 2025

Images: Luís Úrculo