Noxtopia

Coming from the Film Rimini, a film that features the aging community in connection to music, we started analyzing the nightlife of Zurich. We soon realised that there are no nightclubs specific for elderly in Zurich. Therefore, we asked ourselves: How can we design a nightclub to host and support the pleasure of dancing for an aging body.

The site lies on the Rosengartenstrasse, one of the most frequented streets in Zurich. While easily accessible by public transport, the surrounding infrastructure remains fragmented by streets and bridges.The noise pollution is very high. What is usually considered a disruptive factor forms the ideal condition for a nightclub.

As the basis of our design we introduce a grid to the site. The columns lay the basis of the club and accommodate infrastructure to support the aging body while dancing. Programs like cloakrooms, bars, toilets and an acoustically separated room are introduced through closed bodies made out of corrugated metal sheets. Concentrated into two areas, they are always accessible. The volumes are placed into the column net and frame the space inbetween as dancespace. The distinction between open and closed bodies allows for better orientation.

Various age specific adaptations on the closed bodies make the club inclusive for different eye levels and mobilities. Infrastructure to support the aging body while dancing is no longer contained within volumes. On the dance floor it is integrated around the columns. The elements can be rearranged depending on the event.

The club is accessed through a ramp or an elevator, turning queuing into a performative act for the city. The transparent glass facade completed through the curtains make the nightclub visible. Large restrooms give space for spontaneous interactions. The outdoor terraces and the rooftop allow the club to flow outwards and open up the opportunity for day or outdoor parties.

This project is not only about visibility or accessibility, it is most importantly about supporting the pleasure of dancing for an aging body and implementing a sense of appreciation.

Project by: Claudia Roth, Darja Allenspach, Elina Stähli, Lucie Schürch

Teaching team: Anna Puigjaner, Dafni Retzepi, Ethel Baraona Pohl, Lisa Maillard, Luis Úrculo, Pol Esteve Castelló, He Shen

Design Studio: Autumn 2024