Multifunctional building Rosengarten in Arbon by Max Dudler

In the city of Arbon on the Swiss side of Lake Constance, the rough structure of a project named Rosengarten (Rose Garden) has been completed, designed by Berlin architect Max Dudler. Arbon, located in the Swiss canton of Thurgau, is situated on the site of the Roman settlement Arbor Felix (Happy Tree), with a history of settlement traceable back to the late Stone Age. Dudler's design refers to a long tradition and contributes to the densification of the urban center. The site lies along the railway line leading to the center of Arbon. The design features a single-story commercial base from which six stepped residential towers emerge. By offsetting, rotating, or mirroring the residential towers, semi-public pathways and squares for community gatherings are created, resulting in a varied 'urban garden'.
The façade consists of a frame structure with masonry referencing the history of Arbon. The grid of load-bearing elements represents smooth surfaces of colored concrete. The infill is made from the same material, but “with a rough texture reminiscent of a cast wall in a quarry.” The tallest seven-story building at the southern end of the site adopts the height of the neighboring UBS bank building. Together with another six-story residential tower, it creates a welcoming entrance area lined with an existing group of trees. The covered arcade allows access to the individual shops on the ground floor. To the north, four additional residential buildings rise in steps. The corners of these four five-story buildings remain free so that covered loggias and terraces can be established. The stepped form allows stunning views of the lake, the historic part of the city, or the distant Alps from each apartment.