Herzog & De Meuron

* Company:

Herzog & De Meuron

* I'm also a:

Owner/principal

City:

Basel

Website:

http://www.herzogdemeuron.com

13MAR 2012

In progress: Messe Basel / Herzog & De Meuron

Posted in Architecture - Mixed use by Herzog & De Meuron

Initial situation in terms of urban and entrepreneurial planning In the view of the Messe Basel management, concentrating exhibition halls around the Messeplatz is the key entrepreneurial aim in the further development of the Messe Basel. Building the Messe tower and replacing Hall 1 with an ultra-modern building and optimum exhibition areas are the first components in this strategy, which is then followed with the construction of the new halls.

This concentration of the exhibition spaces is also an important urban planning matter for the development of Kleinbasel, aimed at recovering outlying exhibition spaces on the present Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) area for apartments, offices and small businesses while at the same time upgrading the Messeplatz as a focal point in Kleinbasel. Necessary demolition To achieve this both entrepreneurial and urban planning aim of concentrating the Messe and at the same time ensuring that the Watch and Jewellery Fair stays in Basel, two halls located on the Messeplatz must be replaced (Hall 1 at the front and Hall 3).

These halls no longer fulfil modern exhibition requirements in respect of ceiling heights, column spacing or load bearing capacity of the floors. Additionally, it is important that all the halls are interconnected to ensure flexibility for the various events, and car parking facilities in the vicinity are retained.

Necessary construction The new hall is a three-storey extension of Hall 1 alongside the Riehenring which bridges the south part of the Messeplatz. The key architectural and urban planning element is an open hall illuminated from above.

In view of the wide range of uses and activities that are to take place here, we have named the new the hall the City Lounge. It will be used for events and features restaurants, shops, ticket corner, and other services that will also be open at times when there is no exhibition. It is a covered public area, perhaps comparable to a railway station concourse or indoor market, realized in a modern design language.

It is intended that the mix of international and local public, exhibition visitors and street culture will significantly enliven the Messeplatz. The open hall therefore not only marks the entrance to the fairs, but will also become a focal point of public life on Clarastrasse, the main shopping street in Kleinbasel.

During the autumn fair, the partially covered hall will create a fascinating atmosphere, while offering smaller aisles or booths protection from the elements. City lounge and Messeplatz The new hall will scarcely encroach upon the publicly used area of the present plaza, i.

e. all activities that currently take place will continue to do so in the future. What will change, though, are the proportions of the Messeplatz.

The elongated rectangle which more or less runs into the Clarastrasse without any noticeable demarcation will become a more defined square. The new hall creates a clearly demarcated, easy-to-follow sequence between Clarastrasee – City Lounge – Messeplatz – Rosentalanlage.

The Messeplatz is a pedestrian and cyclist precinct. Together with the Rosentalanlage, it will become the central external area of the Messe district which is also a large residential area.

A new “lane” between the new hall and existing multi-storey car park provides pedestrians with a link between the Messeplatz and the adjacent residential area (Riehenstrasse / Peter Rot-Strasse) to the east. In a way, this new lane is a continuation of Isteinerstrasse, and a new east-west connection is created across the plaza, integrating the Messeplatz into the quarter and enlivening the area.

City:
Basel

Design team:
Herzog & De Meuron

Status:
Work in progress

Year:
2004-2013

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