Canton Basel plans overbuilding in St. Johann
In the St. Johann quarter, between Elsässerstrasse and Voltastrasse, Immobilien Basel-Stadt is planning a residential and commercial building as an investment by the canton. The project competition has now been won by the general planning team consisting of Trachsler & Hoffmann, Mettler Landschaftsarchitektur and Caretta + Weidmann Baumanagement AG.
The aim of the development is "the realization of affordable living and working space for the neighborhood in a diversely used and socially integrative development," writes the canton in a statement. The "Gregory" project of the competition winners takes this into account with a "surprising and successful urban design.
The project envisages a narrow ten-storey building along Elsässerstrasse and a three-storey base facing the district heating plant on Voltastrasse. Formally, the buildings are oriented in structure and materialization to the buildings of the industry and thus emphasize the axis of Elsässerstrasse.
The new development is intended to provide space for a variety of uses: The first floor consists of an open structure of neighborhood restaurant and stores. Residential uses include neighborhood apartments, student apartments, and social welfare apartments. In addition, a daycare center will be added to the existing row of buildings on Elsässerstrasse in a separate building.
In order to meet the competitive requirement for affordable housing, the private space in the apartments was reduced and compensated for by targeted measures in the semi-private areas of the house. These provide, for example, rentable "joker rooms" or communally used outdoor spaces.
The construction project is now being drawn up so that, according to current planning, the building application can be submitted in spring 2017 and construction can begin in fall 2017. Occupation is planned for the end of 2019.
