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Parish Centre
Bahnhofstrasse 23, Lenzburg
1983 - 1994
In
1983 Luigi Snozzi won the 1st prize in the architectural competition
for the parish centre in Lenzburg. After a lengthy planning process,
the parish centre was realized in the years 1993 - 1994. The executed project is completely diffrent from the competition design.
The basic idea of the competition proposal was the creation of a square connected to the Bahnhofstrasse. Behind the church a park was intended.
Within this park should have been located a daycare centre. This element was planned in analogy to the villas, which characterise this zone of the city.
Different pre-existing and new designed edifices would have been united by the square within a coherent urban system. Luigi Snozzi intended to clear
the old chapel from attached buildings. Additionally the restored chapel would have got a new steeple marking the point of the square. The existing church
was an important part in the design, closing the square with its existing steeple. The new parish community house should have been connected to the church
by means of a protico, while a residential building was planned along the Bahnhofstrasse.
In 1984 a much reduced programme resulted in a re-elaborated design. Some elements, such as the daycare centre and the residences, were completely eliminated.
The new project included only the large multifunctional hall, the meeting room and a dining hall. These rooms were arranged within an L-shaped edifice.
The layout of the building creates a sort of "cloister" connected to the existing church. The composition results in an internal square along the long side of the church.
This cobbled square is accessed by means of some steps, which are placed in alignment with the steeple. There is an alternative access directly from the parking area
behind the church. The new building has a large portico, which establishes the relation between the entrances of the various spaces. The rounded shape of the dining hall and
the steeple of the existing church create a narrow passage, giving the square more seclusion. On the exterior the majority of the building is rendered white. Towards
the Bahnhofstrasse, the building shows a base in exposed concrete. The large windows of the first floor facing the square are made of broad stainless steel casements.
After many delays due to bureaucratic problems, construction of the design had finally started in 1993.
the parish centre was realized in the years 1993 - 1994. The executed project is completely diffrent from the competition design.
The basic idea of the competition proposal was the creation of a square connected to the Bahnhofstrasse. Behind the church a park was intended.
Within this park should have been located a daycare centre. This element was planned in analogy to the villas, which characterise this zone of the city.
Different pre-existing and new designed edifices would have been united by the square within a coherent urban system. Luigi Snozzi intended to clear
the old chapel from attached buildings. Additionally the restored chapel would have got a new steeple marking the point of the square. The existing church
was an important part in the design, closing the square with its existing steeple. The new parish community house should have been connected to the church
by means of a protico, while a residential building was planned along the Bahnhofstrasse.
In 1984 a much reduced programme resulted in a re-elaborated design. Some elements, such as the daycare centre and the residences, were completely eliminated.
The new project included only the large multifunctional hall, the meeting room and a dining hall. These rooms were arranged within an L-shaped edifice.
The layout of the building creates a sort of "cloister" connected to the existing church. The composition results in an internal square along the long side of the church.
This cobbled square is accessed by means of some steps, which are placed in alignment with the steeple. There is an alternative access directly from the parking area
behind the church. The new building has a large portico, which establishes the relation between the entrances of the various spaces. The rounded shape of the dining hall and
the steeple of the existing church create a narrow passage, giving the square more seclusion. On the exterior the majority of the building is rendered white. Towards
the Bahnhofstrasse, the building shows a base in exposed concrete. The large windows of the first floor facing the square are made of broad stainless steel casements.
After many delays due to bureaucratic problems, construction of the design had finally started in 1993.