Friday 27 January 2012 Page 5
In-depth article
At the December 9, 2011 municipal assembly, voters approved a SFr. 25.4m loan to finance the building of an eldercare center in Saanen. There were 312 votes for and 40 votes against the resolution. No voter voiced an objection to the loan amount, nor to the municipal council’s proposal to increase the original loan amount from SFr 2.15m to SFr 25.4m. However, there was voter discussion regarding the appearance and functionality of the two proposed buildings, encompassing the eldercare center. In particular, one citizen criticized the form of the roof, saying it was not in the usual local architectural style. Further interest was expressed in the future use of the hospital building. Municipal council president Aldo Kropf stated that the Canton of Bern, as owner of the building, had yet to make a decision. In preparation of the vote and during the weeks leading up to December 9, the Gemeinde Saanen and the planners of the project held an information meeting. “I would have the great pleasure, if you all would say: ‘Yes, we stand behind it [the project]’ on your way out the door tonight,” said Bethli Küng, president of the Alterszentrum Saanen AG. Had the vote not passed, a problem would have remained, as the shortage of eldercare beds in Saanenland was expected to increase. “We have huge waiting lists at the existing nursing homes,” Küng said. “It has been proven that we have too few places.” If all goes according to plan, construction on the property below the
hospital would begin in spring 2012; and the nursing home and assisted living units would be operational by 2013. Construction project to cost SFr 29.2m At the meeting, architect Heinz Fahrni from Steffisburg gave a detailed presentation of the SFr 29.2m project. It was a crucial decision to split the eldercare center into two buildings. It made sense to separate the nursing home from the assisted care apartments. In the nursing home, there will be a separate group for people with dementia to be located on the first floor, in order to provide the inhabitants access to the garden on the slope side of the building. Double rooms upon request Double rooms will be made available in the nursing home only upon explicit request. In total, 42 care beds and 20 small, assisted care apartment units will be created. The building, in which the units will be located, is to have commercial spaces on the ground floor. Fahrni suggested some examples of fitting tenants for those spaces: a hairdresser or physiotherapist practice. The ‘business atmosphere’ is to give the building life and to create a village character. The main access to the two buildings is to be multifunctional, enabling it to be used for deliveries as well as a recreational space for residents and visitors. A fountain and tree plantings are planned. Money should not be a hindrance A one-bedroom apartment will cost SFr 1,120 per month, a two-
Foto: zVg
Voters approve loan increase for SFr 29.2m eldercare center; project plans optimized again
Architect Heinz Fahrni, winner of the bid project “young@heart” has had to change his plans many times. bedroom apartment SFr 1,540 and a three-bedroom SFr 1,900. However, money, or the lack thereof, should not hinder someone from moving in, according to Bethli Küng. Whoever cannot afford the rent can apply for individual rent reduction from a foundation called the Rüeggfond. This procedure differs from those conditions of a nursing home, which are bound by the health guidelines set by the cantonal authorities. Those residents unable to pay the tariffs - using their social security and pension payments as well as private assets - will be helped by supplementary services from the social security office. Since 2010, the canton has stopped financing adult day cares and nursing homes. Therefore, the eldercare center in Saanen must fend for itself in finding money. Suggesting itself is financing through contributions from the “à-fonds-perdu” and from a loan from the Gemeinde Saanen as largest shareholder (84% of share capital). “The loan interest rate corresponds to the reference rate set for mortgages by the Federal Housing Office,” said Christian Gafner, munici-
pal council member. “The interest rate is fixed for 10 years. Amortization is to occur within 50 years. The Alterswohnen STS AG, as future operator of the center, is paying 0.5% of the building costs of the nursing home as property value retention of the Alterszentrum Saanen AG.” Again and again: the roof Since the project won in an architectural competition, a lot on building plans has changed. The roof, especially served as a constant discussion point. Architect Fahrni optimized the building plans, so now we will get a gable instead of a hip or pitched roof. Pure timber construction in a nursing home is impossible for safety reasons, according to Fahrni. Many see the planned project as not sufficiently being in chalet style. “From our point of view, the object was already quite well adapted to the chalet style,” Fahrni said. “Essential elements have been included here and the building is not something totally strange.” TRANSLATED AND ADAPTED FROM THE ARTICLE BY CHRISTINE EISENBEIS AVS 25.11.2011 AND EXCERPT FROM THE ARTICLE BY ANITA MOSER AVS 13.12.2011