Superdraft Studio

Description

Situated beside the Rhine and Museum Tinguely, embedded in the idyllic Solitude Park in Basel, the historical half-timbered house creates a dialogue between the past and today. In the spirit of Tinguely’s manifesto for statics – «Everything is in motion, nothing ever stands still» – the existing building has not been artificially preserved but reinterpreted, set in motion and allowed to continue its story. The fine-grained structure of the administration building has been retained, preserving the building’s unique atmosphere. At the same time, carefully planned interventions create flowing transitions between open and enclosed areas, encouraging both concentrated work and social interaction. The glass-walled arbour opens up the view of the Rhine and provides a light-filled meeting room. The remodelled attic provides bright workspaces and flexible archive areas. A new central feature is a dynamic staircase that runs through the building as an almost sculptural form, energising it like a motor. It generates movement, connects the different levels, creates surprising visual connections and encourages spontaneous encounters. The existing structure has been structurally, energetically and technically upgraded and respectfully extended. The administrative building preserves its history whilst meeting the demands of a modern working environment. A successful example of how heritage conservation and contemporary use come together to create a vibrant interplay of different values.