World-renowned Basel architects Herzog & de Meuron have unveiled plans for a spectacular 86-meter residential tower in Birsfelden, a Basel suburb with 10,000 residents. The ambitious project, known as the Prisma district plan, will be presented to the public on Thursday evening as part of the municipality's ongoing urban densification efforts.
The architectural proposal features a striking 86-meter tall residential tower positioned atop three podium buildings, with visualizations showing a delicate structure apparently constructed from wood. One of the most distinctive elements is a tipi-shaped podium building that will house an enlarged and modernized Coop supermarket branch, replacing the current store on the site.
The development will encompass two parcels located on Hauptstrasse and Birsstegweg, where the existing Coop store and the Haus Birsstegweg residential care facility currently stand. The existing care facility, which provides daily structure and support for chronically ill and physically disabled individuals, will be integrated into the new development rather than demolished.
As part of the comprehensive redevelopment, the banks of the Birs River and adjacent areas will be transformed into an attractive public park that balances accessibility with natural green space. The project aims to preserve the functionality of existing community services while dramatically increasing housing density in the town center.
This latest project joins a series of ambitious development plans that Birsfelden hopes to implement in the coming years. The municipality is simultaneously pursuing the Center and Hardstrasse district plans, densification of the Sternenfeld area, and construction of the Birsturm tower on Birseckstrasse, among other projects.
The push for development comes as Birsfelden faces multiple challenges including a growing population, increasing individual housing space demands, and significant financial pressures. The municipality is working to eliminate its structural deficit and reduce a multi-million-dollar debt burden that has accumulated over recent years. Officials hope these developments will attract higher-income taxpayers to improve the town's fiscal situation.
However, not all development plans in Birsfelden have proceeded smoothly. The Center district plan was initially rejected in a referendum before a scaled-back second version was eventually approved by the municipal assembly. This history suggests that public acceptance of the ambitious Herzog & de Meuron tower project is not guaranteed.
Birsfelden has recently gained international attention for its new traffic control system that generated a flood of traffic fines, demonstrating the municipality's willingness to pursue controversial measures to address local challenges. The Thursday evening presentation will provide residents their first opportunity to examine detailed plans for what would become one of the tallest residential buildings in the region.
