The city of Basel is growing. Its location in the border triangle is now seen as an opportunity for development as a tri-national agglomeration. However, one of the city’s main strategies is redensification. In recent years, some outstanding built examples have been created in a very small area.
Black plan: Building and Transport Department of the Canton of Basel-Stadt/Michael Bögli: GVA Canton of Basel-Stadt
As you, dear reader, have no doubt correctly recognized, this issue is about one of the most exciting cities on the European architecture scene: Basel. Hardly any other city has such a high density of lighthouse projects in such a small area (170,000 inhabitants on 24 square kilometers) and at the same time boasts such a renowned office portfolio. But this small, fine city in the border triangle between France, Germany and Switzerland is also known for a number of different highlights – the ART, the infamous carnival, Basel Cathedral, the Tinguely Fountain with its museum, swimming in the Rhine, the Badischer Bahnhof and, of course, the ever-present life sciences industry – represented by the billion-dollar pharmaceutical companies Novartis and Roche with their correspondingly imposing buildings; including the new Roche Towers and the now iconic Asklepios 8. All of these buildings were designed by? Herzog & de Meuron, of course.
And yes. Anyone who says Basel must also say HdM. However, if you listen to the Basel or Swiss architecture scene, HdM seems to be both a curse and a blessing for the city. Neither locally nor internationally can the office of Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron be ignored, while at the same time the desire for more diversity is expressed with something akin to eye-rolling groans. This would not detract from the local building culture. Quite the opposite. Because Burck-hardt + Partner, Diener & Diener, Buchner Bründler Architekten, Christ & Gantenbein, Morger Partner and Miller & Maranta impressively prove time and again that they can easily keep up.
Back to Basel. According to Mercer, the city was the 14th most liveable city in the world in 2023. Quite rightly so, in our opinion. With excellent infrastructure connections on land, water and in the air, people in Basel cycle across the borders to Germany and Switzerland, swim to work in the morning, enjoy a spectacular cultural offering in Kleinbasel, Großbasel or on the disused harbor area in northern Kleinhünigen – or meet up in the evening for a more traditional aperitif in one of the numerous Rhine cafés right on the river.
At the same time, Basel has an enormous need for more residential and commercial space and has been facing new challenges in urban development for several years. In this issue, we take a closer look at redensification projects, focusing on inner and back courtyards. The city administration is involving the population in exciting projects in the dialog on urban development and offers everyone numerous opportunities to become an urban development player. But one thing really sets Basel apart: Here, urban planning is implemented and lived relatively quickly.
I hope you enjoy this issue, and I hope just as much that we can whet your appetite for Basel. Please let me know if we have succeeded.
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Our May issue is all about the living of tomorrow. Read more about it here.