BIS, Basel, Switzerland, 2022

Having long situated central Basel’s only tower, the site of the Bank of International Settlement (BIS) headquarters is poised for a renaissance: New high-rises are increasingly densifying the city’s center, while the site’s southern edge, erstwhile the backside of the station, will be introduced to further pedestrian infrastructure. Recognizing the site’s new urban conditions and the tower’s iconicity, for the extension of the BIS we propose a compact ecosystem that promotes exchange and produces synergy between old and new.

The architectural expression of the New Development is dynamic and light. Inviting curves complement the tower’s centrality, while stepped accessible terraces echo the existing plinth. Forming the institution’s heart, an urban oasis situated between old and new protects from the bustling city beyond. The stepped terraces of the tower, previously inaccessible, become part of this inner courtyard. Facing the station, an open plaza anticipates the plot’s urban centrality and leaves a site for public usage. Poised to receive a new tower in a distant second phase of development, the BIS Plaza offers a public amenity for the foreseeable future while leaving maximum flexibility for the second stage.

Visitors and staff are welcomed in a generous, porous and open building. The building’s façade is a dynamic play of layers and remains highly transparent, bringing daylight deep into the interior. Where it is needed, a green belt offers a visual buffer for privacy from the outside. Challenging the rectangular office floor plan, where the relationship between the perimeter and the inner zone is often static, in our plan, the relationship between center and periphery changes, resulting in a variety of spaces and avoiding the monotony of the office corridor. The result is a flexible work environment that offers a lasting sense of identity.

Following the philosophy of “doing more with less”, we leverage existing resources, preserve land and avoid unnecessary pre-investment for future development by building on the existing basement and foundations. Combined with the introduction of efficient operational strategies and systems, as well as catalysts for workplace comfort and institutional culture, we aim for the highest standards of sustainability, circularity, and wellness at the workplace. We anticipate that the BIS New Development will promote a thoughtful and forward-looking attitude and be an exemplary project for the future of the institution and the city.