The EMS of the Grande Fontaine Park benefits from the qualities of the surrounding area, a magnificent site to the east of the village of Bex, Switzerland. Dialoguing with the mountain landscape context, the residence and its park complement each other with four interlocking houses clad in wood, evoking both the universes of the park and local buildings.

The roof slopes to encourage a relationship with the surrounding villages and gives the residence the scale of the hamlet, an intermediate scale between villa and village. The layout of the building fits finely into the heart of this park around which radiates a network of cells that accommodate different flora environments: the meadow, the vegetable garden, the orchard, the pond, the forecourt and the games. The park’s various programs resonate easily with those installed on the ground floor.

The Grande Fontaine Park, with its exceptional tree heritage, is offered through a network of routes crossing the different atmospheres. Their paths offer a variety of experiences along which are placed regular rest zones and therefore the opportunity to benefit from the assortment of existing trees. At crossroads we find the vegetable garden, a biotope or a pond which become meeting places of sharing and exchange. Their design ensuring a safe walk for residents and inhabitants.

The open courtyards, on either side of the residence, controlled and protected as outdoor spaces, are essential parts of the project, just as important as the residence, its alter ego. Set to the north and the south, these courtyards can be read as a continuation of the park, creating a specific and privileged relationship with the surrounding nature. The four “houses” making up the residence emphasize the articulation with this outdoor space.