After completing renovations for the Volkshaus brasserie and bar in 2012, Herzog & de Meuron completed renovations on the Volkshaus hotel.
The Volkshaus Basel, originally the castle bailiwick, has a rich history dating back to the 14th century. In 1845 a brewery with adjoining restaurant was built, with a concert hall and beer hall added later. The latest renovations in the 70s destroyed the original character and identity of the Volkshaus beyond recognition in the name of technical upgrades.
In line with the renovations of the brasserie, bar and small events halls back in 2012, Herzog & de Meuron hoped to discover historic layers by peeling back the ‘crust’ applied in the 70s. Soon the architects realized none of the original features survived except the windows. They had to refer back to the original plans and historical research for their design.
A carefully selected ensemble of materials was selected for consistency throughout the renovation. In the hotel rooms a thick black oak wood wall lining the corridor was implemented to insert the bathroom and closet spaces. Glazed black and dark green ceramic tiles define the bathroom.
The bed is centered with a headboard made of oak slats that refer to the beer garden benches. Thick curtains can close off the sleeping area from the entrance. Enclosed the bedroom is turned into a ‘textile’ cocoon. The green wallpaper shows etchings from the 17th century. The dark terrazzo flooring echoes flooring throughout the hotel.
Most of the furniture is custom designed by Herzog & de Meuron in collaboration with different manufacturers. In addition to a simple table and the Volkshaus chair, conceived earlier for the bar and brasserie renovation, each room is furnished with a lounge chair produced by Von Rickenbach. None of the rooms are the same as the architects tried to create a character of their own for each room.
The lobby is reinstated with a shop as in 1925. The floor has a black and green mosaic. The original door was reinstated with flanking window vitrines. The renovation completed a transformation of the Volkshaus Basel to its original glory as a vibrant part of the city of Basel.
