Cantonal properties in Riehen win sustainability award
Properties of the Canton of Basel-Stadt have won the international prize for sustainable architecture awarded by the University of Ferrara and the Fassa Bortolo company. The buildings on Hirtenweg in Riehen scored points for their wooden construction and socially acceptable densification of living space.
The properties of the Canton of Basel-Stadt at Hirtenweg 16 to 28 in Riehen have won this year’s international prize for sustainable architecture, the cantonal finance department informs in a statement. Every year, the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Ferrara and the building materials company Fassa Bortolo award the prize to projects “that are geared to the needs of people and serve as role models in the careful use of natural resources”, it continues. In this year’s competition, the cantonal properties prevailed over numerous other projects from all over the world.
The international jury was particularly impressed by two aspects of the properties in Riehen. One was the socially acceptable densification of living space. Of the five buildings already on the plot, the canton renovated three. The remaining two were demolished and replaced by three new buildings. This almost doubled the number of flats from 32 to 63.
On the other hand, the resource-saving solid wood construction method was the decisive factor in the project realised by the project team Harry Gugger Studio AG, Erne AG Holzbau and Fontana Landschaftsarchitektur. The wooden modules were prefabricated in a production hall and then assembled on site within a very short time. During the entire construction work, the residents of the properties were able to stay on site. Residents of the deconstructed buildings moved into an already completed new building before their old house was demolished.