Water Reservoir / Berrel Berrel Kräutler

Water Reservoir / Berrel Berrel Kräutler - Concrete, ColumnWater Reservoir / Berrel Berrel Kräutler - Image 3 of 14Water Reservoir / Berrel Berrel Kräutler - GardenWater Reservoir / Berrel Berrel Kräutler - Image 5 of 14Water Reservoir / Berrel Berrel Kräutler - More Images+ 9

Text description provided by the architects. A building particularly worthy of note was constructed on the Bruderholz site, a popular, nearby recreational area, when water reservoirs were built for the city of Basel. Only one floor is visible above ground despite the immense size of the water storage facility. This is due to the architectonical responsibility that the building assumes in the view of its central and public site in the midst of a grown park landscape, hence, the need to integrate the building into the park and to shape this public space accordingly.

Water Reservoir / Berrel Berrel Kräutler - Image 7 of 14
© Eik Frenzel

To forge a connection between architectural achievement and the natural landscape, the building itself needed to be viewed as an integral part of the park and so the building emerges organically from the heavily wooded landscape, providing a viewing point over the park space, which marks the entrance to the underworld of the gigantic reservoir in the shape of a mysterious sculpture. The grass-covered steps leading up to it extend an invitation to passers-by to linger and enjoy their time here or, seen as small terraces to the even lawn above the reservoir, they are used to play ball.

Site Plan

The building blends with the park and fulfils its function in the open space. Therefore, its reconstruction continues the tradition that started with the representative, classicist buildings of Basel’s water supply on the Bruderholz site, such as, the reservoir realised in 1926.

Water Reservoir / Berrel Berrel Kräutler - Forest
© Eik Frenzel

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Project location

Address:Basle, Switzerland

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
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Cite: "Water Reservoir / Berrel Berrel Kräutler" 06 Jul 2011. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/148175/water-reservoir-berrel-berrel-krautler> ISSN 0719-8884

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