The Pappelhöfe – A successful contribution to sustainable and attractive living in the Hard-Quartier Langenthal
In Langenthal's northern quarter, the Hard, an extraordinary residential project has been created that impresses with its successful combination of historical heritage and modern living comfort. The "Die Pappelhöfe" project was planned and implemented by the renowned architectural firm Rolf Mühlethaler Architekten AG and offers lively, sustainable living in a harmonious garden city atmosphere on around 4,000 square metres.
The housing estate preserves the important old buildings from the years 1942 to 1949, the houses of Hector Egger, and complements them with modern new buildings. This architectural combination creates an exciting and varied environment with attractive courtyards, play streets, front gardens and private gardens. The result is a small, charming garden city that is in line with the principles of economical use of the land and a dense construction method in accordance with the urban development concept.
A total of 68 rental apartments with different floor plans were built. The offer is aimed at families, couples, singles and older people and places particular emphasis on socially acceptable pricing. The apartments are barrier-free accessible via an elevator and offer contemporary living comfort with fresh, spacious windows and modern floor plans. A central element of the Pappelhöfe is the integration of the buildings into the existing garden city structure. The four new buildings were built on the foundations of the earlier houses, while the existing historic buildings were carefully preserved. The design of the Pappelweg, which crosses the quarter, has been upgraded and invites people to linger, play and get together with different surfaces, seating and shady trees.
The public space between the buildings is designed to promote encounters. Community gardens, semi-public forecourts and private retreats offer a wide range of opportunities for social interaction and recreation. Particularly noteworthy are the wooden long buildings, which impress with their clear, modern architecture and sustainable construction. These were awarded the Prix Lignum 2024 in silver and are considered an innovative example of timber construction in Switzerland. The underground car park under the buildings offers 68 parking spaces, including charging stations for electric vehicles powered by solar power. The connection to public transport, the proximity to shopping facilities, schools, leisure facilities and the convenient location near Aarwangenstrasse make the Pappelhöfe an ideal place for sustainable and comfortable living.
The commitment to high-quality construction has been recognised by numerous awards. In 2024, for example, the Pappelhöfe received the Prix Lignum in silver, the "Region Mitte" award and the Bernese Baukultur Prize. These recognitions reflect the high architectural quality, the sustainable construction method and the successful integration into the existing quarter. The Pappelhöfe are a prime example of a sustainable, socially oriented and architecturally high-quality settlement. They combine the history of the place with the requirements of today and offer a lively community that is characterized by openness, quality and innovation. The project shows how careful planning and respectful handling of existing buildings can lead to an inspiring and sustainable home.
Source: Wohnbaugesellschaft Landeten AG
Photos: Alexander Gempeler
Isometrics & parts of the drawings: Valeri Luginin in the seminar FACADE 4.0
The preparatory work for this project publication was carried out as part of the building construction theory in the seminar FACADE 4.0 at the FATUK of the RPTU through a student thesis by Valeri Luginin.
