UBS bank, Basel, Switzerland 1986-1995
Competition project: 1986
Construction: 1989-1995
Partner: Burkhardt+Partner, Basel
Client: UBS Zurich
Artists: Felice Varini, Maurizio Nannucci
Site area: 3'847 m²
Useful surface: 8'700 m²
Volume: 92'700 m³
The seven-storeyed building lies at the confluence of two important road axis: Aeschengraben street, with the continuity of the building blocks, and St. Jakobsstrasse, with the discontinuity of separate houses. The front is composed of a convex surface clad in stone with horizontal strips that alternate in color. It is linked to the small villa housing the restaurant. At the corner of the streets, the cylinder is cut to create a rear stepped surface, accentuated by vertical slits as well as by the treatment of the stone cladding. The large curved front is marked by the massive central column and by the wide cavity made of edges and stepped elements. The interior space tapers at the top and the skylight illuminates the sequence of square openings placed on each floor overlooking the pit.