Project:

Primary School C. Merian

Year:

2019 -

Client:

Bau- und Verkehrsdepartement Basel-Stadt, Städtebau & Architektur, Hochbauamt

Location:

Basel, Switzerland

Program:

School, Multifunctional Hall, Library

Area:

3’600 sqm

Commission:

Open competition, 1st prize

architects:

Hosoya Schaefer Architects AG

Planning Team:

Dr. Lüchinger+Meyer Bauingenieure AG

Extension and Renovation

School buildings must be able to adapt to the constantly changing requirements. The existing building is therefore reorganised, and a new wing is added which allows for a flexible use of the classrooms and group rooms but also of the teachers’ area.

Today’s entrance becomes a hinge over which corridors extend in three directions resembling a windmill. In the new wing the elevator and representative staircase are placed for both buildings. The new-wing corridor is designed as a learning landscape and works as a powerful and efficient connection. The staircase in the existing building is replaced by new toilets while the centrally positioned common technical facilities maximise energy flows.

The ground floor of the new wing serves as public zone oriented towards the Emmanuel-Büchel Strasse. The foyer that connects to the auditorium has its own entrance, and the kitchen is designed as an object within the space. The auditorium is lowered by 1.6 metres underground, resulting in compact building volume and with a direct connection between the existing and the new. The auditorium is a multifunctional space that can be used in various ways and can be opened towards the outside for public events. Above the concrete ground floor, three floors made from a wooden structure are dedicated to school use. The teacher area is on the first floor and on the typical second and third floors are located the classrooms and group rooms.

The architectural protagonist of the new wing is the wooden-frame-structure. It stiffens out the wing both transversely and longitudinally and allows installation of flexible wall partitions. The wooden ribs and cross-pillars in conjunction with the concrete ceiling divide and structure the space. The concrete and wooden building with the light balcony structure facing east, invites for a colourful and playful appropriation of the space, or better yet, it demands it.

Publications

Projects

Architecture

Morgentalquartier, Wetzikon, 2020 –
Program: Housing
Current state: Phase 51 and 52, under construction

Haus Myrte, Wädenswil, 2022 –
Program: Transformation of historical building
Current state: Phases 51 and 52, under construction

Station Square and Roof, Herisau 2015 –
Program: Station square, station roof, bus roof
Current state: Phase 41, under construction (partially)

MEWA-Areal, Wädenswil, 2018 –
Program: Culture, Restaurant, Housing, Retail
Current state: Phase 31, preliminary design

Wilhelmsburg Rowing Clug, Wilhelmsburg (D), 2020 –
Program: Clubhouse, boat hall
Current state: Execution Pla

House A, Geneva, 2021 –
Program: Residential house
Current state: Renovation, ongoing

Primary School Christoph Merian, Basel, 2019 –
Program: School
Current state: ongoing

Herriberg-Feldmeilen station, 2020 –
Program: Retail, housing, bus yard
Current state: framework plan

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

Boulevard, ETHZ Hönggerberg Campus, 2020 –
Program: Campus Boulevard redesign (with Studio Vulkan)
Current state: ongoing

Viererfeld, Bern, 2018 –
Program: Housing
Current state: 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