Berrel Berrel Kräutler AG Architekten ETH BSA SIA

Water Reservoir

Water Reservoir
© Eik Frenzel

WATER RESERVOIR 

Berrel Berrel Kräutler

PHOTOGRAPHS
Eik Frenzel, Berrel Berrel Kräutler

YEAR
2008

LOCATION
Basel, Switzerland

CATEGORY
Industrial Architecture

Water Reservoir
© Eik Frenzel

Text description provided by architect.

A building particularly worthy of note was constructed on the Bruderholz site, a popular, nearby recreational area, when water reservoirs were built for the city of Basel.

Only one floor is visible above ground despite the immense size of the water storage facility.

Water Reservoir
© Eik Frenzel
Water Reservoir
© Eik Frenzel

This is due to the architectonical responsibility that the building assumes in the view of its central and public site in the midst of a grown park landscape, hence, the need to integrate the building into the park and to shape this public space accordingly.

To forge a connection between architectural achievement and the natural landscape, the building itself needed to be viewed as an integral part of the park and so the building emerges organically from the heavily wooded landscape, providing a viewing point over the park space, which marks the entrance to the underworld of the gigantic reservoir in the shape of a mysterious sculpture.

Water Reservoir
© Eik Frenzel
Water Reservoir
© Eik Frenzel

The grass-covered steps leading up to it extend an invitation to passers-by to linger and enjoy their time here or, seen as small terraces to the even lawn above the reservoir, they are used to play ball.

The building blends with the park and fulfils its function in the open space.

Therefore, its reconstruction continues the tradition that started with the representative, classicist buildings of Basel’s water supply on the Bruderholz site, such as, the reservoir realised in 1926.

Water Reservoir
© Eik Frenzel
Water Reservoir
© Eik Frenzel


Water Reservoir
Site Plan
Water Reservoir
Site Plan
Water Reservoir
Detail

Berrel Berrel Kräutler AG Architekten ETH BSA SIA
T +41 44 4300280
Berrel Berrel Kräutler AG Architekten ETH BSA SIA
Binzstrasse 23, 8045 Zürich, Switzerland