Herzog & de Meuron has unveiled its new headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, relocating more than 300 employees into an inspiring and community-driven vertical campus at Mailand-Strasse. The contemporary, multi-story volume is crafted with a clear architectural identity characterized by rational systemic structure, circularity, and a low carbon footprint.
Contrasting the industrial hub with a distinctive, expressive character, the project is anchored by a five-story plinth whose striking silhouette is articulated via acute angles of branching rail spurs. Internal stairs at the northern tip disrupt the repetition of horizontal pivot windows and corrugated metal panels, revealing metal-clad forms on the facade that connect two levels and spark dialogue with surrounding industrial volumes. Double-height spaces and open stairwells foster exchange and communication across interiors lined with timber and clay ceiling panels. Concrete is also featured in the three cores, the firewall, and the basement. Open work areas, meeting rooms, quiet retreats, and shared zones are featured on each floor, with spaces like a double-height library and two-story collaboration area reinforcing the design’s vertical identity. “The design of the new workplace for our staff was naturally of paramount importance to us. Each floor offers a variety of spatial zones intended to encourage exchange between teams,” says Pierre de Meuron. “Each floor presents—vertically, in this case—a recognizable and flexibly usable spatial topography, comparable to our campus in St. Johann, which has grown horizontally over decades.”
Heating and cooling systems operate alongside natural ventilation and photovoltaic panels on the rooftop and southern facade to ensure low operational energy consumption. All building layers are designed for disassembly as well. In addition to sustainability measures, alfredo wellness areas include roof terraces, loggias, and three expansive outdoor spaces.
