Creating a hub for social and cultural enterprises through an innovative circular design approach.
The Kaserne area –a former military barracks complex in central Basel– has undergone several transformations over the years, the most recent one has seen the prominent building become a leading hub of social and cultural enterprises in Switzerland.
The main building of the Kaserne was renovated by Focketyn del Rio, opening it up towards the city and the river Rhine. Fluxdock, in partnership with Studio Banana, won a public tender organised by the City of Basel to become the operator of the space now called kHaus, including event and co-working facilities. The high visibility of the project and its greater good civic purpose was an opportunity to demonstrate in an exemplary manner that a qualitative environment can be conceived while putting circular design into practice.
The result is an inviting and multifaceted environment that provides a lively co-working and event atmosphere adapted to future users’ requirements and wide ranging target groups. Following a cohesive ensemble approach, Studio Banana gave each space its own unique character while respecting the architectural heritage of this historic building. From informal exchange, networking and break rooms to more formal areas for concentration, meetings and workshops, the design allows for a versatile and shared use of the space by all tenants.
Through an unconventional and future-looking design approach fueled by Studio Banana’s sustainable vision “Form follows availability”, they developed a second-cycle furniture and material supply ecosystem aimed at reusing or upcycling existing resources through a network of local and social enterprises.
Discovery
As this building was meant to be the new home for the local community, Studio Banana carried out a co-design process involving local social and cultural organisations to understand their ambitions, user needs and functional requirements. Out of this consultation process, they identified key strategic drivers that guided the development of the project:
1. Versatility of use: The new environment had to cater for multiple functional needs, as spaces are shared by diverse user groups.
2. Circularity at the core: This project had to commit to social and sustainable goals; caring for the planet as well as supporting the local network and resources.
3. Respect for heritage: The Kaserne building is a prominent historical icon. The proposed design had to respect the original architectural language.
The upcycling approach
Following the sustainable aspirations posed during the co-design process, Studio Banana embraced some of the principles of Circular Economy fitting out all the spaces with second-cycle products furniture supplied, repaired or upcycled by a local network of partners and social enterprises.
A complex scouting process
Building on a robust functional layout of the space with clear look & feel intentions in mind, they started the challenging mission of scouting second-cycle equipment and furniture “with a story behind” that fit into this framework. This approach turns upside down the classical linear design implementation process, transforming it into an ever-evolving cyclical process of discovery and constant recalibration; the true “design follows availability” mantra.
The complex logistics managed by the Studio Banana team included a whole process of research, scouting, documentation and selection, cost control and purchase as well as repairment, cleaning, upcycling, storage, transport and installation.
As a result, they built a dense sourcing network across the region within a 20 Km radius (decommissioned in large companies, spotted in local second-hand stores or from private sellers online) and also developed an upcycling network to manage the complex exercise of replacing missing parts, repairing damaged pieces and hacking repurposed elements. To achieve that, they established a successful collaboration with local non-profit associations supporting the integration of underprivileged people into professional life.
A patchwork harmony
As a result of the careful scouting and selection process, the different spaces at kHaus offer a diverse yet coherent second-cycle atmosphere while providing high functionality and stable quality.
The multi-culti corridor allows for different working scenarios and exchanges and is composed of a mixture of pre-loved furniture and additional custom-made wood structures granting diverse configurations such as lounge corners, personal lockers or privacy dividers. Greenery in the whole project is also pre-loved, adding to the patina and stories embedded in the space.
The meeting rooms –adapted to host bigger formal encounters or smaller and agile ones– also integrate upgraded second-cycle technology.
Through a mix of powerful colours, cool & chic furniture and writable walls, the informal spaces have been freely designed to boost creativity and encourage spontaneity in daily activities, with flexible elements allowing for a wide range of settings.
The co-working zone provides space for individual work on flex desks while single or double custom-made wooden phone booths allow for private conversations.
Another social space is the community kitchen integrating storied pre-loved elements from various sources. Even the coffee machine was recovered and upcycled and found a new companion custom-made wagon.
The successful delivery of this project demonstrates that using second-cycle furniture and equipment is not only possible, but part of the solution towards a future-proof sustainable work environment.
