Lucerne: Atlas Foundation plans senior residence

The non-profit Atlas Foundation has acquired three plots with a total area of around 7,000 square meters in the center of the city of Lucerne around the Villa Himmelrich. As the developer, it intends to build a senior citizens' residence as the main use. The offer is to be supplemented by a public restaurant as well as commercial and service areas and additional apartments.

"Due to the complex task at a central location, a single-stage study contract will be carried out for the development of the area in an invitation procedure with an interim meeting and a final presentation," writes the foundation. In coordination with the city of Lucerne, six teams from the fields of urban planning, architecture and landscape architecture have been invited to take part in the process. As the client is private, the procedure is not subject to public procurement law.

The following teams were invited: ALP Architektur Lischer Partner from Lucerne with Baumschlager Eberle (Zurich) and BÖE Studio, Zurich; Cometti Truffer Hodel Architekten with GKS Architekten and Freiraumarchitektur (all Lucerne); Diener & Diener Architektem (Basel) and Vogt Landschaftsarchitekten (Zurich); E2A Eckert Eckert Architekten (Zurich) and Neuland Architekturlandschaft (Zurich); Loeliger Strub Architektur and Schmid Landschaftsarchitekten (both Zurich), Miller & Maranta Architekten (Basel) and Maurus Schifferli Landschaftsarchitekt (Bern).

Results next year

The final presentation and assessment of the submitted projects is planned for July 2026. The selection committee will be chaired by architecture professor Christian Hönger from Zurich.

The Atlas Foundation was established in Zurich in 1972 with the aim of providing apartments at attractive conditions for elderly middle-class Swiss citizens. The foundation owns and operates the residences Konradhof in Winterthur, Spirgarten in Zurich, Südpark in Basel and Stadtpark in Uster.