herzog & de meuron plans trio of stepped towers for roche's revised basel HQ

herzog & de meuron has revised plans for the headquarters of roche, a global pharmaceutical company based in basel, switzerland. the updated masterplan includes the addition of a third high-rise office tower whose height and shape is based on ‘building 1’, completed in 2015, and ‘building 2’, currently under construction. forming a complementary trio of stepped towers, the cluster will mark the center of the site.

all images courtesy of roche / herzog & de meuron

following the scheduled 2023 inauguration of the site’s new research and development building, the old laboratories will be left vacant. roche plans to replace them with a loose mix of buildings amid an ample green, open space. this park will accommodate a low-rise reception building as well as ‘building 3’, a high-rise office tower with a maximum height of 221 meters (725 feet).

‘the revised vision for the upgraded südareal we are presenting today gives us the opportunity to create modern workplaces while substantially expanding the green space along the rhine and redesigning the solitude promenade,’ says jürg erismann, basel/kaiseraugst site head. ‘we are convinced that innovation arises primarily through personal interaction. so despite increasingly flexible work practices, we will need new, modern and highly attractive workplaces in the heart of the city once the coronavirus pandemic is over.’

in addition, an underground car park with charging infrastructure for e-vehicles has been proposed. the start of demolition of the southern area is planned for after 2023. see designboom’s previous coverage of the site, including images of the completed ‘building 1’, here.

project info:

name: roche basel site
location: basel, switzerland
architect: herzog & de meuron
client: roche
previous coverage: september 2015