Herzog & de Meuron
Project
2003-2005
Realization
2006-2008

The St. Jakob Tower scheme provides its setting with a vibrant urbanistic focus. In the manner of a “gateway building” it marks a key entrance point into Basel and is particularly eye-catching for drivers on the nearby motorway. The new Mercedes-Benz Showroom slots easily into the urban terrain between the St. Jakob sports and events venue and the Birs river.

The Mercedes-Benz facility is designed as an open, transparent structure, whose walls and roof slab grow out of the platform. The showroom spaces for new and second-hand cars span three levels linked by ramps.

The elevated platform (6.10 meters above the stadium perimeter level), like the existing facility, is a key pedestrian circulation hub – a place to see and be seen – while also doubling up as a venue for future events. Located on the eastern front (looking towards Muttenz), it is modeled as an artificial topography marking off the sports and visitor facilities while also creating a smooth transition to the revitalized Birs riverside pathway.

The tower’s massing responds to the particular features of the site, the occupancy types, visual axes and shading requirements. The building houses apartments mainly on the southern elevation and upper tower levels, coupled with offices on the northern elevation. The tower reads as a crystalline glass volume with openings for balconies to serve the apartments. For reasons of noise control (motorway and railway lines), the northern elevation is designed as a blank, unbroken façade with no balconies.
Herzog & de Meuron, 2008

245_CO_0807_702_RW
245_CO_0807_702_RW
148-2_CP_0805_702_RW_404_U
148-2_CP_0805_702_RW_404_U
245_CP_0811_DM_019-449
245_CP_0811_DM_019-449
245_CP_0811_709_DM_6572
245_CP_0811_709_DM_6572

Drawings

245_DR_080901_A-001-02_Sit
245_DR_080901_A-001-02_Sit
245_DR_101004_SJT_OG1
245_DR_101004_SJT_OG1
245_DR_0809_A-105-11_EG
245_DR_0809_A-105-11_EG
245_DR_080901_A-111-10_3-OG
245_DR_080901_A-111-10_3-OG
245_DR_080901_A-117-12_9-OG
245_DR_080901_A-117-12_9-OG
245_DR_080901_A-120-11_12-OG
245_DR_080901_A-120-11_12-OG
245_DR_080901_A-122-10_14-OG
245_DR_080901_A-122-10_14-OG
245_DR_080901_A-125-09_17-OG
245_DR_080901_A-125-09_17-OG
245_DT_061213_003
245_DT_061213_003

Team

Facts

Client
Implenia Generalunternehmung AG, Basel, Switzerland
Planning
General Planning: Implenia Generalunternehmung AG, Basel, Switzerland
Architect Planning: Herzog & de Meuron, Basel, Switzerland
Architect Construction: Herzog & de Meuron, Basel, Switzerland
Electrical Engineering: Scherler AG, Basel, Switzerland
HVAC, Plumbing, Mechanical Consultant Coordination: PGMM Schweiz AG, Winterthur, Switzerland
Structural Engineering: WGG Schnetzer Puskas Ingenieure AG, Basel, Switzerland
Specialist / Consulting
Acoustic Consulting: BAKUS Bauphysik & Akustik GmbH, Zurich, Switzerland
Building Physics Consulting: BAKUS Bauphysik & Akustik GmbH, Zurich, Switzerland
Civil Engineering: Jauslin & Stebler Ingenieure AG, Basel, Switzerland
Facade Consulting: Neuschwander + Morf AG, Basel, Switzerland
Fire Protection Consulting: Gruner AG, Basel, Switzerland
Geometric Consulting: Burger & Partner Ingenieure AG, Basel, Switzerland
Safety Consulting: Gruner AG, Basel, Switzerland
Traffic Planning: Jauslin & Stebler Ingenieure AG, Basel, Switzerland
Building Data
Site Area: 94'700 sqft, 8'798 sqm
Gross floor area (GFA): 326'146 sqft, 30'300 sqm
Footprint: 76'961 sqft, 7'150 sqm
Length: 452 ft, 138 m
Width: 252 ft, 77 m
Height: 232 ft, 71 m
Facade surface: 127'552 sqft, 11'850 sqm
Links
www.st-jakob-turm.ch

Bibliography

Luis Fernández-Galiano (Ed.): “Arquitectura Viva MonografĂ­as. Herzog & de Meuron 2005-2013.” Vol. No. 157/158, Madrid, Arquitectura Viva SL, 09.2012.

Fernando Márquez Cecilia; Richard Levene (Eds.): “El Croquis. Herzog & de Meuron 2005-2010. Programme, Monument, Landscape. Programa, Monumento, Paisaje.” Vol. No. 152/153, Madrid, El Croquis, 2010.

Hubertus Adam: “Gedrungener Kristall. Wohn-und BĂĽrogebäude in Basel (CH).” In: Katja Kohlhammer (Ed.). “Deutsche Bauzeitung. Zeitschrift fĂĽr Architekten und Bauingenieure.” Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Konradin Medien GmbH, 11.2009. pp. 24-29.

Hubertus Adam: “Aktuelles von Herzog & de Meuron. Häuser und TĂĽrme.” In: “Archithese. Internationale Zeitschrift und Schriftenreihe fĂĽr Architektur.” Sulgen, Niggli, 01.2007. pp. 78-83.

Location