Basel: Mission statement for Rosental Mitte now available

The canton of Basel-Stadt has gradually acquired the formerly closed Rosental Mitte research and company site over the past few years. The aim is to open up the site in the Schwarzwaldallee, Rosentalstrasse, Mattenstrasse and Maulbeerstrasse area and transform it into a new urban district.

According to the urban development model, the focus of the new utilization concept is on "high-quality workspaces for value-added industries, business services and research, which are dependent on a central location and an attractive working environment," according to the canton. The intention is to retain resident companies and educational institutions on the site as well as to create space for new companies and institutions to locate there. There are currently 3,500 jobs on the site; according to the urban development model, 3,000 to 5,000 more could be added, depending on market demand.

Housing, trade and leisure

Plans also call for a residential offering with potential for 1,100 to 2,200 people, comprising different price segments and ensuring a social mix. At least one third of the residential space realized is to be in the affordable segment. Stores, restaurants, cafés, leisure and sports facilities as well as commercial and cultural space are also planned. Important buildings from the industrial history are to be preserved and form architectural anchor points of the new district.

The transformation of the site will take place gradually over several decades, tending from the outside to the inside, the canton continues. In the first few years, the focus will be on opening up the site and strengthening it as a business location.

There are already concrete plans: A historic administration building is to be revitalized with new uses such as gastronomy. Cooperative apartments are to be built in former residential buildings on Maulbeerstrasse and Rosentalstrasse. Initial new buildings for a research cluster for the university and various laboratory buildings are also planned.

The urban development model, which forms the basis for the development of Rosental Mitte, is out for consultation from January 27 to March 27, 2020.  (ah)