Pleasure

A woman's body goes through different stages throughout her life. While puberty and the sexualization of young bodies are common topics of conversation, the desexualization of aging bodies, particularly after menopause, is often overlooked. While sex education focuses on teenagers, there is little emphasis on the sexual health and well-being of those who are no longer in their reproductive years. This lack of societal attention leaves many aging women without the education, care, or spaces to explore their needs and pleasures outside the domestic space.

To address this gap, we propose an institution in Zürich dedicated to the education, care, and pleasure of women experiencing or beyond menopause.

Our goal is to create an empowering and supportive environment where women can redefine their relationship with their bodies and sexuality.

Our site lies at the intersection of Rosengartenstrasse, Nordstrasse, and Rosengartenbrücke, in Wipkingen, Zürich. The building follows the curve of the plot, creating three distinct outdoor spaces with varying levels of privacy. The façades define the character of the institution—visible and inviting, yet protective and safe.

The main façade, running along the edge of the site, acts as a visual and acoustic filter. Its thickness houses services and circulation pathways, while a long translucent curtain covers it in vertical strips. From a distance, these strips form the word PLEASURE, emphasizing the building's mission.

A metal mesh overlay plays with transparency and shadow, adding a dynamic quality, especially at nightfall. At both ends, this filtering infrastructure serves as a support for outdoor activities and acts as a link between the building and the neighborhood.

In contrast, the southern façade opens onto the park, offering intimate spaces for workshops and activities that can flow seamlessly into the garden or onto extended balconies. These design choices ensure that the institution fosters both community and privacy, creating an inviting and transformative space for aging women to connect, learn, and celebrate their identities.

Project by: Clara Della Casa, Elisa Cudré-Mauroux, Eva Dimarco, Sascha Coston

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

Design Studio: Autumn 2024