477 Switzerland’s First Middle School on the Roof of a Shopping Center

BASEL, SWITZERLAND, 23 September 2020 – The government of Basel-Stadt, in collaboration with the Christoph Merian Foundation and the Migros Cooperative Basel, announced today that the roof of MParc Dreispitz shopping center will accommodate a Sekundarschule (middle school) for 600 students, as part of the overall transformation of Dreispitz Nord.

This positive and significant decision to say Yes to the stacking of uses in the inner-city and Yes to the collaboration of institutions, private parties and the government sets a precedent for future urban developments. Now, the school will take on a central role in the master plan of Dreispitz Nord, not only as an example of architectural densification but also exemplifying the mix of social and functional uses in the new neighborhood.

Legal and financial forms of cooperation are essential to ensure innovative densification, reasonable land use, and preservation of green spaces by building on the built. Since the school needs to be operational as soon as possible, the government’s decision gives the entire Dreispitz Nord development a push forward and reinforces the vision of high quality urban densification in Basel-Stadt and beyond.

The location of the school and a multipurpose gymnasium on the elevated Adele Duttweiler Field is ideal, with the gymnasium and playing fields available in the evenings for sports clubs, associations and other activities. The school’s athletic and recreation areas will occupy only a part of the entire field. Gardens and other outdoor areas will be accessible to the residents of Gundeldingen and public at all times.

Master Plan

The 2017 competition entry for Dreispitz Nord has undergone detailed review and all aspects of planning have been further refined in close cooperation with planners, commissioning parties, and cantonal authorities. The competition jury participated in this process and the interests of local residents have been integrated. The urban parameters of the master plan have been further examined in terms of zoning laws and technical feasibility, particularly with a view to ensuring the uninterrupted operations of Migros (MParc) in the course of the transformation. Particular attention has been paid to traffic studies, the organization and development of parking facilities, parceling and the distribution of uses. The sum of all these studies form the Richtprojekt which will be the basis for the Bebauungsplan to be presented to the cantonal parliament in mid-2021.

DREISPITZ NORD

PRESS RELEASE