Guerra Clauss Architekten

New Botnar Research Center for Child Health (BRCCH)

The project is characterized by a "Forme Forte", which fits in between the historical building fabric and the object like buildings of the Basel Health Campus.

The building shape, a right-angled trapezoid, responds to the urban corner situation with its two different sides. The straight side picks up on the compact rhythm of the historical fabric. The angled side, turns towards the campus buildings and enters into a dialogue with them. The new project makes full use of the allowed height, becoming a strong landmark at the intersection.

In order to reduce the building's CO2 emissions throughout its life cycle, the principles of circularity, demountability and reuse where applied. This approach combined with a high degree of prefabricated elements and modularity, also allows for the construction time to be optimized.

The organization of the building creates a clear hierarchy between the functions located in the rear-facing core and the free space in front of it. This spatial and functional structure offers a high degree of flexibility, allowing the building to adapt to its use. To do so a hybrid structure was developed that works very closely to the technical requirements of the building. Space, use, structure and technic are developed as an efficient, flexible and innovative unit that is expressed in the facades of the building.

The intelligent structure and adaptable interior makes the building sustainable and a long-lasting place for today and tomorrow.

Use: Research Center
Area: 2200 sqm