Basel, Switzerland

Basel-based KohlerStraumann architects design and complete an ultra-minimalist apartment complex featuring cascading terraces overlooking the city of Basel.

The contemporary seven-unit ‘Hasenrainstrasse’ is located on the curve of a hill that offers 180-degree uninterrupted views over the cityscape built in response to the contours and topography of the location.

Each apartment offers a unique structure that appears lower from street ground level reflecting the neighborhood setting.

This minimalist apartment building is characterized by a unique modern style and an innovative design concept that reflects the low-rise developments in the neighborhood.

During the construction procedure, the architects faced numerous challenges with the site topography, excavation, form, and neighborhood context.

One of the challenges that KohlerStraumann faced was how to integrate seven units in the space and comply with the local height restrictions and regulations, so they decided to excavate the plot.

However, this structure was dug down to fifteen meters and all the stories were built from the bottom up. The excavation system took almost five months to complete, mainly for the digging process.

This process resulted in extra space for private balconies at every level of the complex.

The facade of this monolithic building remains the most impressive element of the structure as the architects have combined large and monolithic concrete blocks with wooden details in order to emphasize tones and textures.

The basement houses a parking garage accessed by a car elevator and is enriched with a dramatically lit concrete staircase at its heart. 

All apartments are arranged around a central stair core, with a wall of glass providing expanding views and extra light to the building.

As far as the interior design is concerned, the architects have designed all apartment units following modernist style but each apartment is designed with different materials in order to maintain variety within the complex.

Project: Hasenrainstrasse
Architects: KohlerStraumann
Lead Architects: Aaron Kohler and Marc Straumann
Photographers: Maris Mezulis