18.10.2022 Jakob Schoof

kHaus in Basel by Focketyn del Rio Studio

© Adrià Goula

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With the kHaus in Basel, Focketyn del Rio Studio marks the closure of a decades-long repurposing story: the former barracks grounds in the Kleinbasel district have now become a much-frequented cultural and creative centre.

© Adrià Goula

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For around 100 years, the military barracks were isolated from the public before the Swiss Army transferred ownership of the area to the City of Basel in 1966. Since then, a multifariously used cultural and creative quarter has developed here – with one exception: the cultural shift completely passed by the six-storey, fortress-like main barracks building on the banks of the Rhine. It was not until 2013 that the city announced a design competition for its repurposing as the kHaus. The young architects from Focketyn del Rio Studio carried the day in the contest.

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Their renovation concept, which has now been realized, intended in many respects to open up spaces: a new arched gateway beside the main building now connects the barracks yard with the city, while the ground-floor windows have been redesigned as full glazing. Moreover, in the central tract of the main building, which is around 110 m long, several storeys have been removed in places in order to create atria extending over two or three levels. 

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Here the Plaza, a three-storey stairway and event hall, opens up at ground level. Above this, there is a two-storey event and performance space. The building also features many other functions, including a dance room on the lower level, a main-floor restaurant, a café right up in the tower, diverse project and rehearsal spaces as well as a co-working space beneath the roof. Even a mosque has opened in the side wing.

© Adrià Goula
© Adrià Goula

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The architects speak of the “poly-typology” of their design, a term that refers to the great degree of flexibility inherent in the spaces. In many places, it has not been determined which space is for use and which will serve as an access area. Rooms can become corridors and vice versa.

© Adrià Goula

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Nevertheless, they have succeeded at creating interiors with true character: the large hall on the upper levels now features a slat covering of black-brown, swivel-mounted acoustic panels that can be used to darken the space as well. The two new stairwells that provide additional stiffening for the building are characterized by red exposed concrete. In the Plaza, the architects have created a sculptural stairway with the flair of the ‘50s and the heft of the ‘20s. The balustrades of polished exposed concrete dyed through with red runs describe a gentle curve into the wall, which has been given a rough washed plastering in subdued white. Above it all hang chandeliers of delicate metal rods; these clearly harmonize with the overall postwar aesthetic.


Architecture: Focketyn del Rio Studio
Client: Construction and Transport Department of the Canton of Basel-Stadt
Location: Kasernenhof 8, 4057 Basel (CH)


General planning: Arge Kaserne Hauptbau (Focketyn del Rio Studio + Caretta Weidmann Baumanagement + Schnetzer Puskas Ingenieure)                                                            
Structural engineering: Schnetzer Puskas Ingenieure
Site management: Caretta Weidmann Baumanagement
Energy concept: Ehrsam Beurret Partner
Heating planning: Ingenieurbüro Stefan Graf
Ventilation planning: Treuthardt Haustech
Sanitary planning: Unico Gebäudetechnik
Electrical engineering: Hefti Hess Martignoni

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