Decades of euphoric growth at Messe Basel have now given way to a hangover. Together with the inauguration of the CHF 430 million Hall 1 in 2013, a test planning was commissioned to examine the profit maximization of the adjacent plot. The Messe Basel parking garage located there is to be demolished in the near future to make way for a 105 m high-rise building. Today, however, the question arises as to whether this project is now out of date and whether the mostly vacant parking garage has further potential.
01 PARKING MESSE BASEL
Designed by the architectural firm Suter & Suter in 1974, the Parking Messe was part of an expansion project aimed at extending the Messe Basel area. This development was driven by the growing trade fair business in the city.
50 years later, the building is to be demolished to make way for a high-rise project.
02 CONVERSION
The conversion project offers an alternative to the planned high-rise development by converting the existing parking garage to accommodate the planned high-rise programs.
In order to achieve this, parts of the program that are clearly oversized from today's perspective will be shortened or even completely eliminated.
03 HOUSING
The housing component features three distinct units—S, L, and XL—ranging in size from 45 m2 to 385 m2, accommodating varying numbers of occupants from 1 to 20 people per unit. All apartments fall under the umbrella of affordable housing, fostering a sense of community through shared amenities, particularly emphasized in the larger units.
Residents also have access to spacious outdoor areas on each floor, while a publicly accessible roof top serves as a space for communal activities.
04 TRANSFORMATION
The architectural conversion of the parking garage not only represents a pragmatic solution to the immediate need for space, but also demonstrates the enormous future potential of adaptive urban development.
Looking at the broader context of Messe Basel, the conversion of the parking garage can serve as a case study for further transformative solutions.
