Malte Kloes Architekten

At Borna-Park, everyday life unfolds in close dialogue with the surrounding landscape. Meadows, open fields, and the tree-lined Pfaffneren river frame the site, but nature here is more than a scenic backdrop—it becomes the defining identity of a residential and working community.



The development comprises two distinct buildings: a residential building and a workshop, both specifically designed to support people with disabilities. Set freely within a generous park landscape, the buildings are connected by gently curving paths. The daily walk between home and workplace becomes an integral ritual, offering continuous sensory engagement with weather, seasons, and nature.



The residential building is organized as two interconnected units, linked at ground and basement levels. Public and communal functions are located on the ground floor, including a dining hall with catering kitchen, cafeteria, and administrative spaces. Oak furniture, suspended acoustic elements, and polished concrete floors create an atmosphere that is both representative and welcoming.


On the upper floors, the residential groups are arranged as open, flowing sequences of spaces. Living and dining areas are embedded within this spatial continuity, making communal life a natural part of everyday routines. A warm palette in floors and bespoke carpentry, combined with exposed wood and concrete surfaces, results in a cohesive and inviting interior environment.


The workshop building is conceived as a two-storey hall structure in timber construction. Its plan is divided into three functional zones, with a large, double-height storage hall at its center. This central space acts as both an architectural and functional mediator between the different workshop areas. A distinctive shed roof floods the interior with daylight and supports an expansive photovoltaic system spanning the roof surface.


Inside, a structural framework of beech wood defines the character of the space. Together with openly routed technical installations, it lends the interior a direct and robust expression. Generous interior glazing establishes visual connections between the various workshop areas, allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the building while enabling clear lines of sight for staff supervision.


Borna-Park demonstrates how architecture can foster dignity, community, and autonomy through spatial clarity, material warmth, and a profound connection to the landscape—shaping a place where care, work, and nature coexist seamlessly.