Start Up Yard

Idea projektu

For more than a century, the Metalli site in Dornach has been an important location for Swiss metal processing. Now it is to be converted for long-term use and given a new lease of life. Within the framework of an existing master plan for the conversion of the Metalli site, the task was to give the site a future-oriented perspective with temporary forms of housing, a further utilisation component and the partial preservation of the industrial charm of old industrial facilities. Basel is located in an economically advantageous position in the border triangle and is therefore known for its cosmopolitanism and international orientation.

Popis projektu

It made sense to revitalise the area's well-connected industrial base, which had been weakened by the global economic crisis, and to develop it into an attractive, mixed-use neighbourhood. The necessary building block of temporary housing was complemented by the building block of temporary and flexible working and rounded off by the preservation of industrial elements. Parallel to the two halls, two new volumes are to be created which, with their modern interpretation of the gabled roofs existing on the site and their complementary facade design, will face each other as two urban diamonds and enter into strong communication with each other through their large air spaces. The Start Up Yard will provide a space for young creatives to work, allowing them to focus on their projects and their vision of tomorrow. The Start Up Yard combines the building blocks of living, staying and working to create a new synergy of creativity, friendship and quality of life, giving visionaries the foundation to start shaping the world of tomorrow.

Technické informace

The halls of the former drawing mill on the square site were to be retained in some form. Due to the ageing building fabric, this design proposes a complete gutting and subsequent wrapping in a transparent dress. Adapted modular boxes offer space for culinary variety with a street food character.

Clemens Jopp

Technische Universität Braunschweig

Germany

Architektura

Projekt odevzdán

20. 06. 2023

Tag

Architektura Office Pop Up Warehouse Residential
  • Apartment
  • Multi Unit Housing
  • Private House
  • Student Housing
Interior

Rada studentům

Start Up Yard

This project presents a well-conceived transformation of the historic Metalli industrial site in Dornach into a contemporary mixed-use urban quarter. The proposal thoughtfully blends adaptive reuse and new construction, aiming to revitalize the post-industrial landscape through a blend of temporary housing, flexible working spaces, and preserved industrial identity. The two new volumes, inspired by gabled roof typologies and facing one another like “urban diamonds,” establish a strong spatial dialogue and urban character. The conceptual narrative—promoting creativity, entrepreneurship, and cultural exchange—is clearly expressed and well-aligned with the economic and cosmopolitan identity of the Basel region. The design achieves a balanced coexistence of architectural heritage and contemporary function through transparent façades and modular culinary inserts within the preserved halls. However, further architectural refinement in detailing, structural articulation, and climatic response strategies would strengthen the project's real-world applicability. The spatial relationship between old and new structures, while visually engaging, could benefit from clearer resolution of interior-exterior transitions and ground-level activation. Overall, this is a socially relevant and urbanistically sensitive proposal with strong potential, particularly in fostering innovation and temporary urbanism, though it would benefit from more architectural specificity and technical depth.
20.03.2026

Tamer ElSerafi

Kategorie

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