Tilia Pflegezentrum Elfenau

The former infant and maternity home was built between 1929 and 1930 by Otto Rudolf Salvisberg and Otto Brechbühl (the renowned architectural firm Salvisberg & Brechbühl) as a pioneering building of the "New Bern" in the name of health. The main building, which is reminiscent of an ocean liner, is now a listed building and was extensively renovated between 2019 and 2022.

The architecture at the time focussed on the high permeability and transparency of the building and its connection with nature; the building is based on the themes of light, air and sun, which are intended to contribute to the recovery and health of the infants and residents. The building was extended in 1967 and converted into a retirement and nursing home in 1984, whereby the original architecture and basic idea were obscured.

The renovation includes the technical and energy-efficient restoration of the historically significant old building and the careful restoration of the original quality, colour and dimensions. The colours and their tones play a central role in the sense of well-being and atmosphere and are harmoniously related to nature, a spring-like lime green, a sunny yellow - the updated and expanded colour concept of the renovation draws on this original harmony and continues to play the melody.

The adjoining nurses' house was demolished and replaced with a contemporary new building that respects and incorporates the proportions and colour scheme of the original building. In keeping with Salvisberg's philosophy, the new building is in keeping with the main building and is dedicated to health. Because it is designed for people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity, the building provides a safe, symptom-free environment. The Elfenau site now provides 77 care beds, divided into 3 residential areas, 28 in the main building and 49 in the new annexe.