The urban developers from Rhystadt and Swiss Life fully agree with Ott’s view. Piece by piece, a new district will be built on the former industrial premises, reconciling the old with the new.
For instance, the 75-meter building by Suter + Suter, completed in 1966, where intensive research was carried out in recent decades, is set to remain. Just like the harbor crane Goliath, the giant blue building by the Rhine, which sported the Novartis logo for more than 20 years, is intended to serve as a bridge between the past and the future, says Jacek Rokicki, Head Site Operations / COO of Rhystadt AG. “After all, this is an inventoried building, and there is a certain identity that accompanies it and the site,” Rokicki explains. “I think, from today’s perspective, one can say that the building has great significance both for us and the city of Basel. The likelihood of this building being demolished is really minimal. This is not our objective.”
The fact that Rokicki has taken up residence in the high-rise building, from where he enjoys the best view of the city and Klybeck, has an almost symbolic character: “I have the luxurious situation of being able to sit here on the top floor and enjoy this fantastic view of the city. Although I really know Basel like the back of my hand, the fact is that you can experience completely new views here every day.”
The urban vista inspires Rokicki: “I don’t think I’ll get the chance again in my lifetime to help design an entire district – especially in Switzerland ... We don’t want to build over green space, but rather transform what already exists, and here we’re predestined for that.”
Swiss Life’s first projects will also be focusing on preservation, says portfolio manager Philipp Fuerstenberger, who, as a Basel resident, is very proud to be working on the venture and giving the district a new face.
Fuerstenberger explains that he already has clear plans for three buildings: “The project planning for the redevelopment of three of the buildings is already underway. One building is K-25, which is located next to the former Ciba headquarters. The other one is K-410, a laboratory building which was built in the 1930s. The third building is K-26, which was originally designed as an ice factory. We want to leave these three buildings as they are. Not only do they form a very nice ensemble, they are also an important symbol of identity for Klybeck.”
However, it will take some time before the first tenants move into the renovated properties, Fuerstenberger says. First, the final building plans need to be drafted and submitted, and the entire area needs to be rezoned for residential development, as Klybeck is still classified as an industrial area. But despite this obstacle, which involves time-consuming political procedures, Fuerstenberger is confident that the first new tenants will move in by 2023.
In addition to start-ups from the biotech sector, Fuerstenberger would also like to see new industries settle here: “In the former ice factory, we are working on a so-called ‘House of Foods.’ On the ground floor, we would like to accommodate a catering section, for instance a microbrewery or a coffee roastery – someone who manufactures or refines foodstuffs. The upper floors could attract food-related businesses, while the top floors would host office space.”
Things are moving a little faster at Gate 31, right next to the Klybeck restaurant, where start-ups are likely to be able to rent space soon. Even though Fuerstenberger would like the project to move forward at a rapid pace, it is essential for him and Swiss Life, together with Rhystadt and the canton, to promote a sustainable development that not only ensures a balanced mix of uses and people, but allows long-time residents, as well as the estimated 10 000 or so newcomers, to take part in the process.
What is also important for newcomers is accessibility to the public transportation network. Asked about projects that are underway, Katrin Oser, project manager at the Basel-City Construction and Transport Department, explained: “What we are working on is a new tram route, which we see as a development driver. It will run from Riehenring to the future Klybeckplatz, as we are now calling it. The submission of the plan has already been done, so we can expect that the future residents of the area will actually find a tram stop on their doorstep.”
Table of contents
Preserving identity, embracing new ideas
