EMS, Castel Notre Dame, Martigny
The new EMS Castel Notre-Dame project in Martigny is conceived as a contemporary nursing home designed to offer a dignified, comfortable, and stimulating environment for elderly residents, while integrating naturally into the surrounding residential neighbourhood and alpine landscape. Located on the outskirts of the city, the project benefits from open views towards the Valais mountains and a calm setting close to public transport and the town centre.
Rather than creating a single monolithic building, the project is organised into three articulated volumes that follow the irregular geometry of the site. This fragmented composition allows the building to better relate to the scale of the surrounding villas and residential buildings, reducing its visual impact and creating a more domestic and welcoming atmosphere.
At the heart of the project, a central shared space connects the three volumes and becomes the social core of the building. The ground floor brings together the public and communal functions, including reception areas, lounges, dining spaces, and informal meeting areas designed to encourage interaction between residents, visitors, and staff. The architecture promotes fluid circulation, visual openness, and strong connections between interior and exterior spaces.
Particular attention is given to the relationship with nature and outdoor life. Gardens, patios, terraces, and landscaped areas extend the daily living spaces beyond the building itself, creating calm and protected environments for residents. Existing vegetation is preserved and complemented by a new public park, reinforcing the project’s integration into its landscape context.
Through natural light, carefully framed views, and warm, simple materiality, the project aims to create a peaceful and human-centred atmosphere where architecture actively contributes to wellbeing, care, and quality of life.
