Seminar Week FS 25: Living in Basel

Basel, nestled along the Rhine and at the intersection of Switzerland, Germany, and France, has long been a city shaped by trade, industry, and culture. Its historical significance as a trading post brought wealth and prosperity, which left an indelible mark on the city’s architecture. Over centuries, the single-family house—Switzerland’s most enduring housing typology—evolved in Basel as a reflection of its economic fortunes, cultural aspirations, and architectural ambitions.

The 19th century marked a critical shift, as Basel’s rise as a global center for the chemical industry and a general trend of urbanization catalyzed new forms of domestic architecture. Simultaneously, Basel emerged as a modernist laboratory for social and worker’s housing, where pioneering experiments in collective living sought to tackle the challenges of urbanization and industrialization. These efforts ultimately laid the groundwork for Basel to evolve into Switzerland‘s architectural capital over the course of the 20th century.

During this seminar week, we will trace the development of the single family house in Basel across different periods. Through daily walks and site visits, we will explore the evolution of these houses, examining their forms, materials, and relationships to their surroundings. By engaging with these dwellings through historical research and on-site drawing, we will gain insights into the enduring relevance of the single-family house in Basel’s dynamic story.