Monumental

This is Basel.

Architecture in Basel

Basel is seen as Switzerland’s capital of architecture. The number of buildings designed by world-famous architects in such close proximity is unsurpassed, all in the midst of an architectural setting that has evolved over centuries.

World-class architecture 

The Swiss architectural scene has an appeal that extends well beyond the country’s borders. Numerous Swiss architectural firms have attracted attention all over the world in recent decades with a series of outstanding creations. Many of the renowned firms hail from Basel such as Christ & Gantenbein, Diener & Diener Architects and Herzog & de Meuron. They have all helped to lay the foundation of a lively architectural scene in Basel.

Just a few steps away from the picturesque and well-preserved Old Town, you will glimpse architectural masterpieces designed by internationally renowned figures such as Richard Meier, Frank Gehry and Mario Botta. Numerous winners of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize have immortalized themselves in Basel with their buildings – a concentration of superior architecture that is unique in the world. 

Learn more about Basel’s architecture
  • 15 impressive buildings in Basel
  • Guided architecture tours
  • Circular architecture tours
  • 7 hotels featuring exceptional architecture
    • Three architecture Instagrammers show you what inspires them about Basel

    15 impressive buildings in Basel

    A city in flux: Herzog & de Meuron set a new bar with the superior Roche Towers and the futuristic exhibition centre. Mario Botta is responsible for the BIS building and Museum Tinguely. And just over the German border, Frank O. Gehry built his first building in Europe: the Vitra Design Museum.

    Dreispitz site

    Bjarke Ingels Group
    Das Stellwerk auf dem Wolf bei der Einfahrt in den Bahnhof SBB wurde von Basels Stararchitekten Herzog & de Meuron entworfen und 1999 fertig gestellt. /// The striking monolith on the southern approach to Basel SBB railway station was based on designs by Basel architects Herzog & de Meuron, and completed in 1999.

    Zentralstellwerk SBB

    Herzog & de Meuron
    Gesamtsanierung und Erweiterung Stadtcasino Basel, Basel, Schweiz von Herzog de Meuron Architekten, Basel, Schweiz, Casinogesellschaft, Basel aufgenommen am 21. Mai 2020 von Roman Weyeneth, fotografie roman weyeneth gmbh, Fotostudio Basel, Schweiz

    Stadtcasino Basel

    Herzog & de Meuron

    Museum der Kulturen

    Vischer & Söhne
    Herzog & de Meuron

    Kunstmuseum Basel | Neubau

    Christ & Gantenbein
    Das Gebäudeensemble Südpark im Gundeldinger Quartier, designed von Herzog & de Meuron.

    Südpark

    Herzog & de Meuron
    Nebst einem Hotel und Geschäftsräumlichkeiten verschiedener Unternehmen befindet sich im obersten Stockwerk auch die Bar Rouge. Von hier aus hat man einen atemberaubenden Blick auf die Stadt und auf das benachbarte Deutschland und Frankreich. / In addition to a hotel and business premises of various companies, the Bar Rouge is also located on the top floor. From here you have a breathtaking view of the city and of neighbouring Germany and France.

    Messeturm

    Morger & Degelo
    Daniele Marques
    Fondation Beyeler, erbaut von Renzo Piano.

    Fondation Beyeler

    Renzo Piano
    Das Museum Tinguely wurde vom Tessiner Architekten Mario Botta errichtet und zeigt in exzellenter Lage direkt am Rhein die grösste Werksammlung von Jean Tinguely (1925 - 1991). /// Museum Tinguely on the Rhine was designed by the Ticino architect Mario Botta and houses the largest collection of works by Jean Tinguely (1925-1991).

    Museum Tinguely

    Mario Botta
    The Goetheanum in Dornach is the centre of the anthroposophistic teachings of Rudolf Steiner. -- Das Goetheanum in Dornach ist das Zentrum der anthroposophischen Lehre von Rudolf Steiner.

    Goetheanum

    Rudolf Steiner

    BIS

    Mario Botta

    Basel exhibition centre

    Herzog & de Meuron
    Das Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, 1989 entworfen vom Architekten Frank Gehry.

    Vitra Design Museum

    Frank O. Gehry
    Der Campus am Hauptsitz von Novartis ist bereits jetzt ein wahres Mekka der modernen Architektur. Die Gesamtplanung wird vom italienischen Stararchitekten Vittorio Magnano Lampugnani durchgeführt. // The campus located at the Novartis headquarters has already become a true Mecca for modern architecture. The planning was conducted by the famous Italian architect Vittorio Magnago Lampugnani.

    Novartis Campus

    Vittorio Magnago Lampugnani
    Die Roche-Türme in Basel ragen in den Wolkenhimmel

    Roche Towers

    Herzog & de Meuron

    Guided architecture tours

    So why not leave your mark on the city where a dozen winners of the coveted Pritzker Architecture Prize have left theirs? 

    Stadtcasino

    Tour

    Guided tours in Basel

    Book a guided tour of the Novartis Campus, visit the converted Stadtcasino Basel or see for yourself how former industrial sites are transforming into hotspots of the young architectural scene.

    Find out more
    Architektur, LezBroz 2019

    Tour

    Vitra Campus

    On this tour, you will visit the VitraHaus by Herzog & de Meuron, Frank O. Gehry’s first building in Europe, Zaha Hadid’s first building ever and many other masterpieces of contemporary architecture.  

    Book now

    Circular architecture tours

    Explore the architectural metropolitan centre of Basel on your own. Three walking tours take you to the highlights of the city, each dedicated to a different part of the city. 

    Easy • Sightseeing tour

    Architectural highlights day 1

    • 4.7 km
    • 01:15 h

    Easy • Sightseeing tour

    Architectural highlights day 2

    • 8.9 km
    • 02:15 h

    Easy • Sightseeing tour

    Architectural highlights day 3

    • 3.8 km
    • 01:00 h
    • 40 m
    Werkraum Warteck pp Basel

    Guide

    Architecture Guide by Virginia Duran

    Architect Virginia Duran calls Basel Switzerland’s well-kept secret. Her guide provides a comprehensive insight into the city’s architectural scene. 

    To the guide

    Guide

    Architecture brochure

    Including three walking tours
    Galerie des S AM Schweizerischen Architekturmuseums.

    S AM

    Schweizerisches Architekturmuseum

    7 hotels featuring exceptional architecture

    Nomad Design & Lifestyle Hotel

    Boutique-Hotel im Volkshaus
    Innenarchitektur und Einrichtung im Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois in Basel. / Interior design and furnishing in the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois in Basel.

    Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois

    Krafft

    Art House Basel
    Das hochwertige urban lifestyle Hotel The Passage am Steinengraben in Grossbasel.

    The Passage

    SILO hostel by TALENT

    #thisisbasel

    Share your ❤️ of Basel with us. Tag your photos using #thisisbasel to get featured on our Instagram feed @baselswitzerland and at basel.com

    Good to know. 

    • The Architekturwoche Basel (AWB) is the biennial platform for architecture and urban development in Switzerland’s capital of architecture. You can dive into the building culture of the metropolitan region at over 100 different events. The Architekturwoche Basel was held for the first time in May 2022, and will then be a biennial event.

      • Tadao Ando
      • Frank O. Gehry
      • Zaha Hadid
      • Herzog & de Meuron
      • Richard Meier
      • Renzo Piano
      • SANAA
      • Álvaro Siza
      • Eduardo Souto de Moura
      • José Rafael Moneo
      • Peter Zumthor
      • Fumihiko Maki
      • Rem Koolhaas