Visible life

In the film Private Life, a couple navigates the complexities of infertility, resorting to assisted fertilisation methods like IVF, which often involve frequent transitions between home, clinics, and doctor’s offices. These procedures can be exhausting, especially considering the time and financial burden, with statistics indicating higher usage among wealthier individuals.

Assisted fertility options like surrogacy and egg donation face legal restrictions in some countries, leading to “fertility tourism”. In Schwamendingen, where access to such services may be challenging due to lower incomes, a new institution consolidating fertility services is proposed. This centralised hub aims to improve accessibility and convenience for residents, integrating with existing facilities to create synergies.

The institution caters to diverse needs, offering spaces for physical procedures, spiritual support, and legal assistance, all interconnected with an area for social gathering. The design prioritises privacy and comfort, with flexible, transparent spaces allowing for varying degrees of intimacy. These spaces, while visually connected, provide opportunities for personal connection without exposing identities, fostering a sense of community among those undergoing similar experiences.

Positioned discreetly in the neighbourhood’s “backyard”, the first space reached is the social gathering area from where three limbs depart. The further we are from this centre, the more intimate the spaces are. The most intimate spaces are placed in several boxes spread across the three branches, guaranteeing the privacy of people undergoing certain procedures. These boxes pop out of the roof to light the room. This way of dividing the big free space reflects the aim of making visible what is now hidden: the half transparency of the curtains ensures personal connection between people in the same situation, without necessarily exposing their identity. The presence of people in the same room, undergoing the same process, can be heard and seen through shapes, fostering the feeling of no longer being alone and isolated

Project by: Julian Pauchard, Loris Mueller, Nathalie Bettoni

Teaching team: Anna Puigjaner, Jo Baan, Lisa Maillard, Luis Úrculo, Pol Esteve Castelló, He Shen

Design Studio: Autumn 2023