EBBA in collaboration with Cairn and sophie & hans have gained planning approval for an innovative, community-led residential scheme in Rosshaupten, Germany. The project, designed to meet the needs of the town’s evolving population, will feature two timber-framed buildings housing a community hall, care home, accessible apartments, medical practice and affordable housing.

Stretching from the town church to agricultural fields, the proposal respects the local architectural vernacular characterised by two long buildings recalling the traditional farmhouses of Rosshaupten which feature deep plots, street-facing gables and semi-public yards. The two proposed buildings will frame a sequence of public spaces, starting with a civic square defined by the relationship between the church and the gable of the long building; and moving inward, a courtyard space which provides access to the community hall, clinic, and residential apartments, leading to an expansive garden that serves as a semi- private space including gardens at the rear designed for people with Dementia Reflecting the tradition of timber architecture in the town, EC-SH’s structures embrace humble materials familiar to the community, adapted for contemporary use and with environmental considerations in mind. The buildings will feature exposed timber frames and timber upper floors, sitting on a masonry ground level finished in warm coloured render, and large roofs with red tiles and beams. The boarded facades with balconies and shutters add depth and variation. The thermal envelope is separated from the frame on the upper floors, making unconditioned, shared spaces of wide decks, stairs and the winter garden where residents can enjoy sweeping views of the town, countryside and a horizon of mountains.

The Community Centre will be located at the northern end of the longhouse, and will include a flexible double- height hall designed to feel like a shared house for its small community, with warm materials and exposed structural rhythm. The Care Home with accommodation for assisted living will be directly connected to the community hall and will feature shared spaces, easily navigable hallways, and a common room with a hearth to encourage social interaction. Rooms are arranged in clusters to avoid long corridors and each one has direct garden access with full-height glazing and timber shutters.

The apartments for affordable living will be situated on the upper floors of the longhouse; these homes are accessed from wide, sheltered decks and feature external front doors with east and west sunlight exposure. Finally, the Medical Clinic will be located on the ground floor of the small house, opposite the community hall entrance, with dual-aspect apartments and large balconies above.
The collective’s design prioritises sustainability, with excellent daylight and ventilation in all internal spaces. A key environmental strategy is the exposed frame facade and open terraces. This means less internal air to heat and ventilate, and less material in the facades than a conventional design, as well as a stronger connection to the gardens and landscape. The south-facing garden, designed by landscape architects Wamsler Rohllof Wirtzmüller, will serve as a communal outdoor room with areas for privacy and gathering, incorporating mature trees, community growing beds, and a children’s garden.