‘Let’s meet at the steps’

Reuse and transformation of Claraplatz in Basel

project: direct comission, study, 2017
location: Claraplatz, Basel
team: Shadi Rahbaran, Ursula Hürzeler, Eugenio Cappuccio

Since antiquity, the stair has assumed a variety of roles aside from its primary function as a vertical connector of space. From ancient Babylon to the forums of Rome, stairs have acted as public spaces for discourse, commerce, rituals and festivities. Today, we continue to appropriate the typology of the public stair as a social space for meeting up, demonstrating, relaxing or just as somewhere to sit and watch the bustling city go by.
Located in the lively, multi-cultural neighbourhood of Kleinbasel, Claraplatz is a main square that has been dissected and distorted into a central transport hub. Consequently, its potential as a public space is under-exploited, making it a transitory node rather than an attractive place to gather in. Seating possibilities do not go beyond linear urban benches and open areas are occupied by formalized, unusable vegetation.
Looking at successful yet scarce examples in Basel, we believe the city still needs more urban stairs to allow for the inevitable creation of public space. Thus we consider Claraplatz a viable micro laboratory for exploring our prototype.
Our proposal is to introduce a set of stairs within the square as a catalyst for public activity. The stair will have no specific use and will lead to nowhere. It will merely act as a generator for social interaction, offering a place to sit, to discuss, to rest or to climb and observe the spectacle of the square from.
The monumental structure measuring 13.6 m x 13.6 m and 5.4 m high sits vis-à-vis an existing canopy on the square, defining a new open space in between. It has self-contained and accessible power to serve the needs of its users for diverse and spontaneous functions. As its counterpart, the canopy will be given a new identity as a pop-up, multi-use pavilion. The interaction between the two caters for both programmed and impulsive public activity. This results in the reactivation of the square, making Claraplatz a place to meet in: a place to be.