Borna Park – Inclusive Living and Working Community by Malte Kloes Architekten

Nestled in the peaceful landscape of Rothrist, Switzerland, Borna Park reimagines how architecture can foster inclusive living, dignified care, and meaningful work for people with disabilities. Designed by Malte Kloes Architekten, this 9,999 m² development thoughtfully blends healthcare architecture, residential living, and occupational spaces into a unified and nature-driven community.

Surrounded by meadows, open fields, and the scenic Pfaffneren River, the project embraces nature as a core design element rather than a backdrop. Here, landscape becomes identity — encouraging social interaction, sensory experiences, and everyday connection to natural rhythms.

A Landscape-Integrated Community

The masterplan features two primary structures: a residential building and a workshop, positioned freely across a lush park. Gentle, curved paths link the buildings, creating accessible and meditative daily routes that enrich residents’ routines with light, wind, sound, and seasonal change.

This movement between home and workplace becomes a defining ritual — supporting physical well-being, independence, and a sense of place.

Residential Architecture Designed for Belonging

The residential building is structured as two interconnected units, offering both privacy and community.

Ground Floor: Shared Life and Social Interaction

The ground level hosts key communal areas:

• Dining hall with a catering kitchen
• Warm, welcoming cafeteria
• Administrative functions

Polished concrete floors, oak wood furnishings, and suspended acoustic elements create a soft-toned, calm, and contemporary environment, balancing clarity with comfort.

Upper Floors: Home-Like Living

Residential spaces upstairs are designed as continuous and open spatial sequences, reinforcing communal life. Cozy living and dining spaces encourage social connection, while warm materials — exposed wood, soft color palettes, crafted carpentry — create a familiar, residential feel.

The result is a home that protects dignity, privacy, and emotional comfort while inviting community life.

A Purpose-Built Timber Workshop

The workshop is conceived as a two-story timber hall divided into functional zones. Its organizational heart is a double-height storage and working space that visually and physically links the workshops.

A striking shed roof brings abundant daylight deep into the building while housing an expansive photovoltaic array — nearly the size of a football field — reflecting a commitment to renewable energy and sustainable architecture.

Inside, exposed beech wood structure and openly routed services create an honest, durable, and workshop-appropriate character. Transparent interior partitions ensure visual connection, optimum daylight spread, and discreet staff supervision, offering safety without sacrificing autonomy.

A Model for Inclusive, Nature-Driven Care Architecture

Borna Park sets a new benchmark for participatory living environments, where design actively supports independence, social inclusion, and well-being. By merging therapeutic and everyday spaces, nature and structure, privacy and community, the project demonstrates how architecture can empower vulnerable groups while enriching the broader landscape.

All photographs are works of Karina Castro