HORTUS in Allschwil
Herzog & de Meuron- Type Headquarters / office Commercial / Office
- Date 2025
- City Allschwil
- Country Switzerland
- Photograph Maris Mezulis
The office buiding HORTUS has opened its doors in the technology campus Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area, in Allschwil. It offers approximately 10,000 m² of space for around 600 workplaces, in an open-plan layout ensuring flexibility and inducing collaboration.
HORTUS – acronym for House of Research, Technology, Utopia, and Sustainability – is designed to comply with highly demanding environmental commitments and minimize its carbon footprint. It is estimated that in 31 years, HORTUS will have fully offset the energy used during its construction.
Sustainability was the central axis of the design, guided by a rigorous scientific analysis of various building materials and techniques. Priority was given to modular elements and natural, biodegradable raw materials, in combination with solutions thought out with a view to the future reuse of components. The timber frame and the ceilings of compressed clay reduce pollutant emissions drastically. A hybrid floor system made of wood and clay was developed, prepared on the site with earth extracted during construction work. In this way, emissions were brought down as much as ten times, in comparison with the conventional use of concrete.
Sustainability is reinforced with about 5,000 m² of photovoltaic panels on the roof and other surfaces. This solar-energy system generates surplus from day one. The landscaped central atrium, created by the garden designer Piet Oudolf, acts as a natural biotope, watered exclusively with rainwater stored in a tank buried in the garden. This water also goes to the sanitary services, further minimizing consumption of resources.
Cliente Client
Senn Resources AG
Arquitectos Architects
Herzog & de Meuron
Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron; Stefan Marbach (socio responsable partner in charge)
Equipo Team
Alexander Franz (asociado associate); Gerald Oeckl (jefe de proyecto project manager); Giulia Schnyder (anterior jefa de proyecto former project manager); Viktoria Bruhs, Zuzana Chupac, Silja Ebert, Jean-Michel Jeanne, Vladislav Kostadinov, Maria Krasteva, María Niro González, Raneen Nosh, Marika Prete, David Schneider, Martin Schulte, João Filipe Varandas
Planeamiento Planning
Herzog & de Meuron (arquitecto del proyecto project architect); ZPF Ingenieure AG (ingeniería estructural structural engineering); SENN Construction AG (planeamiento general general planning)
Consultores Consultants
Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH (tierra compactada rammed earth); Piet Oudolf (paisajista, patio landscape architect, courtyard); Stauffer Rösch (paisajista, exterior landscape architect, exterior); Christoph Etter Fassadenplanungen (consultora fachada facade consulting); Planeco GmbH (consultora energía solar solar energy consultant); Aegerter & Bosshardt AG (seguridad ante incendios fire safety); Reflexion AG (especialista ingeniería lumínica specialist lighting engineer); Kopitsis Bauphysik (física de la construcción y acústica building physics and acoustics); Anima Engineering (ingeniería mecánica mechanical engineer); Control AG (climatización heating and cooling); R+B engineering AG (ingeniería eléctrica electrical engineer); Anima Engineering AG (ingeniería sanitaria sanitary engineer); Studio NEO (señalética signage)
Construcción Construction
Blumer-Lehmann AG (trabajos en madera, fachada, forjado híbrido timber and woodwork contractor, facade, hybrid ceiling slab system); Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH (techo híbrido hybrid ceiling slab system); Planeco GmbH (instalación solar solar installation contractor); Erne AG (excavación y cimentación excavation and foundation contractor); K. Schweizer AG (instalación eléctrica electric installation); Zumtobel Licht AG (iluminación especial special lighting); Basler Haustechnik AG (climatización heating and cooling); Erich Keller AG (convectores convectors); Lippuner Energie und Metallbautechnik AG (suministro de aire air supply); Santech Gebäudetechnik (sanitarios sanitary); Otis (ascensor elevator); Ferdinand Hasler AG (trabajos metálicos metal works); Häubi AG (juntas joinery); Erne AG (juntas, planta baja joinery, ground floor); Gashi AG, (forjado de madera timber flooring); Girsberger (mobiliario fijo fixed furniture); Vitra AG, (interior fit-out); Schneider Gartenbau (paisajismo landscaping)
