Project:

Forest Archipelago

Year:

2020 -

Client:

Municipality City of Basel (CH), Municipality City Weil am Rhein (DE)

Location:

Otterbach, Switzerland/Germany

Program:

Mixed-use Living Quarter

Area:

106’430 sqm

Commission:

Competition with pre-qualification: 1st Prize

ARCHITECT:

Hosoya Schaefer Architects AG

PLANNING TEAM:

Agence Ter.de GmbH

VISUALIZATION:

Bloom Images

FOREST ARCHIPELAGO OTTERBACH SÜD – LIVING WITHIN NATURE

The area Otterbach South is located at the Swiss-German border between the cities of Basel (CH) and Weil am Rhein (D). Surrounded by forests to the south and northeast, and railways to the west, the site is adjacent to the Landschaftspark Wiese (Landscape Park Wiese) characterized by an attractive and rich landscape scenery.

In accord with the surroundings, the so-called “forest islands” form the basis of the concept. They consist of open, polygonal block structures situated freely in the landscape resembling islands that only occasionally adjoin each other. The building plots of the new quarter feature clearly defined spatial boundaries set in relation to the existing large greenhouse and the prominent figures of the nearby forest and embankment.

The open space, in turn, brings the forest into the quarter and takes the form of individual fragments shaped as small forest islands. This creates a particular living quality and features an ecological, climatic and pedestrian network which links Nonnenholz and Lange Erlen with a distinct, near-natural and low-maintenance environment. This car-free, publicly accessible green space is designed as a recreational and resident-oriented area that does not have typical street cross-sections but instead widens and narrows in profile.

Publications

Projects

Architecture

Herrliberg-Feldmeilen station, 2020 –
Current state: framework plan

Haus Myrte, Wädenswil, 2022 –
Current phase: tender

House Renovation, Geneva, 2021 –
Current phase: ongoing

Airport Engadin, St. Moritz, 2020 –
Current phase: construction project

Cooperative Housing, Wetzikon, 2020 –
Current phase: tender

Fabrik.sg, 2020 –
Current phase: Project phases design to operation

ZHA, Boulevard, Hönggerberg Campus, 2020 –
Current state: ongoing (with Studio Vulkan)

Wilhelmsburg Rowing Club, 2020 –
Current phase: execution planning

Primary School Christoph Merian, Basel, 2019 –
Current phase: construction project

Station Square and Roof, Herisau 2015 –
Current phase: tender

MEWA-Areal, Wädenswil, 2018 –
Transformation Project from the former industrial estate to the mixed-use development with housing
Current phase: framework plan

Viererfeld, Bern, 2018 –
Housing
Current phase: on hold

Urban Design

Bahnhof Romanshorn, 2022 –
Current state: study (with Sudio Vulkan)

Kaserne Aarau, 2022 –
Current state: urban framework

Areale Wittenbach, 2022 –
Current state: urban design commission

Stiftungsareal Neumünster, 2022 –
Current state: study

Kieler Schloss, 2022 –
Current state: Public think tank on usage and architecture

Campus Heidelberg, 2021 –
Current state: Masterplan process, in-depth studies

Otterbach Süd, 2020 –
Current state: urban framework plan

Innovation Park Bergedorf, 2020 –
Current state: urban framework

Station Area Dietikon, 2019 –
Current state: urban framework plan

Campus Bochum, 2018 –
Current state: project support

Metalli, Zug, 2017 –
Current state: project support

Bahnstadt Nürtingen, 2017 –
Current state: project support

Areal Neugasse Zürich, 2016 –
Current state: completion of master plan, public consultation

Elbinselquartier Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg, 2015 –
Current state: project support

Tech Cluster Zug, 2015 –
Current state: transformation plan

Station Herisau, 2013 –
Current state: areal development

KNZ Wil West, Thurgau / St. Gallen, 2011 –
Current state: project support

Urban System Research

Metaverse, 2022 –
Current state: ongoing

Entwicklungskonzept Würzenbach, 2022 –
Current state: ongoing

ESP Hochdorf, 2021 –
Current state: spatial-urban as well as use- and circular-based development concept

Deep Urbanism, 2021 –
Current state: ongoing

cividi gmbh – civic data intelligence, 2019 –
Digital tools for the analogue city
Current state: ongoing

Contact

Zürich office

Flüelastrasse 10, 8048 Zürich, Switzerland (Google Maps)
T. +41 43 243 6313 F.

GENERAL INQUIRIES: office@hosoyaschaefer.com
PUBLIC RELATIONS: press@hosoyaschaefer.com
CAREER: job@hosoyaschaefer.com (Please refer to our OFFICE > CAREER section for further information)

Kyoto office

Jimukinoueda bldg. 603, 21 Sakaicho, Gojo-Takakurakado, Shimogyoku, Kyoto 600-8191, Japan
T. +81 75 744 1503
office@hosoyaschaefer.com