Having long been 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, 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 public space 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.