FOCKETYN DEL RIO unveils parterre one, a cultural bar club in switzerland

located in kaserne basel, switzerland, parterre one is a protected heritage ensemble in the heart of the city. it is originally a military barracks converted into a cultural hub for the past 50 years after the army left. the owner has commissioned architecture studio FOCKETYN DEL RIO to redefine the existing restaurant, bar and venue that have not truly worked well together. based on that, the goal has been to create one cultural pole that effortlessly combines the three zones. within this frame, the project becomes an architectural geode with refreshed façades and a surprising interior around a thunderbolt gallery.

the building sits in a heritage ensemble within kaserne basel in switzerland
all images © adrià goula

from the start, FOCKETYN DEL RIO has interpreted the existing patio as a new central space — a meeting room for different activities like eating, drinking, and chatting. even though the space has always been there, it has been completely filled up to the point of becoming a hidden space; a small tree has managed to survive the different phases, now sitting happily as a protagonist. the studio has cleaned up the area and furnished it with a dark-colored concrete landscape, not only solving the height difference but also offering sitting spaces. the renovated room has a cozy touch and benches made with tree trunks, cut just at the right height.

exterior view: restored patio becomes a meeting point for several social activities

on the other hand, the proposed venue has high acoustical standards which are ideal for concerts and theatres. its characteristic gallery with a broken edge, that becomes meeting niches, offers a strong and inviting image. the upper floor is hung from this new structure, creating a column-free space in the ground floor — almost as if the ceiling were floating. at that level, the railing is solved by offering a bench that ends as an extra bar. hence, the stage becomes the focus of the space, using the full height of the empty building and providing great acoustics for musicians and the audience.

the winter garden becomes a smoking lounge

as the building is under heritage protection, its shape could not be changed — creating a sort of ‘found space’ that, nevertheless, interacts perfectly with the inserted geometries. however, its specific volume has made it difficult to reach the needed high acoustical performance. regardless, this challenge has been successfully overcome by carefully inserting sound-absorbant curtains, vertical elements and projected cellulose in the ceiling; this unveils a new shape that plays with the gallery, giving unexpected effects. indeed, this venue sits next to housing blocks and requires strong acoustic isolation achieved with the existing thick walls and an 8cm layer of shot concrete. the latter is left rough, coming to define the character of the upper floor with its dark cellulose contrasting the red, shiny fix furniture.

a green oasis in the winter 

finally, the bar is split in two for the integration of a wide smoking lounge and small station to order cocktails. the lounge is a continuation of the patio, covered with a winter-garden roof that can be opened during summer. the vegetation flows along the space, creating a green oasis with the wood furniture — specifically the custom made bench that becomes the highlight of nocturnal conversations.

in the inside, a double height space is inserted where a hexagonal perforated sheet makes up the ceiling

in the end, the specific geometries of all the integrated elements work as a symphony. they create a sequence of spaces with simple naked materials like concrete, wood, and metal — easily transformed for concerts, banquets, drinking, or small cinemas. hence, the constrictions became allies by generating different spaces with multiple experiences in the same building. 

the venue has very high acoustical standards and provides a new venue for concerts and theaters

the gallery’s zigzagging shape creates sitting niches

a folded raw metal piece structured as the bar

the female toilet is a fully reflective room with indirect light

the male restroom includes an inox mirror within an all-metal setting 

custom made lights changing the mood in each space

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom