10 Unterschriften erreicht
An: F. Hoffmann-La Roche, CH-4070 Basel Switzerland
Save Roche «Bau 52» – Innovation is Renovation not Demolition!
deutsch - français - Total number of signatures for all language versions
____________________
«Our greatest contribution to society is lasting
innovation.» (https://www.roche.ch/en/about/sustainability)
The high-rise «Bau 52» by Roland Rohn on the Roche site in Basel was completed
in 1960. It is considered the first Swiss building with a curtain wall facade and the
«little brother» of the UN headquarters in New York. For a long time one of Basel's
tallest buildings, «Bau 52» has stood since 2010 directly in front of the Roche
Tower Building 1 as a witness to bygone times.
The development plan that enabled the realization of Building 1 in 2010
simultaneously secured the preservation of «Bau 52». Just 15 years later, «Bau 52»
is to be demolished, along with almost all other buildings on Roche's southern site.
Although the heritage value of «Bau 52» is undisputed, the owner Roche says that
preservation would not be proportionate. They therefore want to demolish «Bau
52» in favor of a new driveway in front of Building 1. This raises questions, as
expert reports prove that «Bau 52» is in good overall condition and that energy
retrofit, earthquake retrofitting, and adaptation of floor plans to today's needs are
possible.
We, the signatories of this letter, know from our collective experience in
architecture, heritage conservation, sustainability, and urban development the
challenges of a historic building. Outdated building services, existing floor plans, or
legacy contamination require innovative solutions. But doesn't Roche in Basel
stand precisely for sustainable innovation, and wouldn't demolition merely
misinterpret innovation with newness?
We say: «Innovation is Renovation not Demolition!»
As professionals and experts, we offer the building owner our united expertise and
support to remain true to their innovative self-image, even in construction matters.
We see in the preservation of the building fabric not only a contribution to
achieving a net-zero balance and preserving a cultural monument, but also a
symbol of the seriousness of their goals.
____________________
«Our greatest contribution to society is lasting
innovation.» (https://www.roche.ch/en/about/sustainability)
The high-rise «Bau 52» by Roland Rohn on the Roche site in Basel was completed
in 1960. It is considered the first Swiss building with a curtain wall facade and the
«little brother» of the UN headquarters in New York. For a long time one of Basel's
tallest buildings, «Bau 52» has stood since 2010 directly in front of the Roche
Tower Building 1 as a witness to bygone times.
The development plan that enabled the realization of Building 1 in 2010
simultaneously secured the preservation of «Bau 52». Just 15 years later, «Bau 52»
is to be demolished, along with almost all other buildings on Roche's southern site.
Although the heritage value of «Bau 52» is undisputed, the owner Roche says that
preservation would not be proportionate. They therefore want to demolish «Bau
52» in favor of a new driveway in front of Building 1. This raises questions, as
expert reports prove that «Bau 52» is in good overall condition and that energy
retrofit, earthquake retrofitting, and adaptation of floor plans to today's needs are
possible.
We, the signatories of this letter, know from our collective experience in
architecture, heritage conservation, sustainability, and urban development the
challenges of a historic building. Outdated building services, existing floor plans, or
legacy contamination require innovative solutions. But doesn't Roche in Basel
stand precisely for sustainable innovation, and wouldn't demolition merely
misinterpret innovation with newness?
We say: «Innovation is Renovation not Demolition!»
As professionals and experts, we offer the building owner our united expertise and
support to remain true to their innovative self-image, even in construction matters.
We see in the preservation of the building fabric not only a contribution to
achieving a net-zero balance and preserving a cultural monument, but also a
symbol of the seriousness of their goals.
Warum ist das wichtig?
The interdisciplinary network of signatories stands ready to accompany Roche in a
socially, ecologically, economically, and culturally progressive transformation of
«Bau 52» Together we can demonstrate what responsible handling of existing
building stock looks like and how a democratic culture of urban development
learns to take new paths.
First signatories
socially, ecologically, economically, and culturally progressive transformation of
«Bau 52» Together we can demonstrate what responsible handling of existing
building stock looks like and how a democratic culture of urban development
learns to take new paths.
First signatories
Basel/Bâle 1st October 2025
Anamarija Batista | (Dr.phil. Mag.rer.soc.oec. Dr.phil. Volkswirtin, transdisziplinäre Forscherin, Kuratorin Universität Wien)
Andreas Ruby | (Mag.Phil. Kunsthistoriker S AM Swiss Architecture Museum)
Anne Lacaton | (Prof. em Architektin Lacaton & Vassal Paris, ETH Zürich)
Axel Christoph Gampp | (Prof. Dr. Kunstgeschichte Uni Basel und BFH)
Axel Humpert | (Prof. Dipl. Arch. ETH Architekt BHSF Architektur & Städtebau)
Axel Schubert | (Dipl.-Ing. SRL FSU Architekt, Stadtplaner Dozent Nachhaltigkeit)
Barbara Buser | (Dipl. Arch. ETH Architektin, Bestandsanwältin, ReUse-Pionierin Baubüro in situ)
Ben Pohl | (M.Sc. Dipl.-Des. Urban Designer Denkstatt sàrl, B/IAS)
Bernd Kniess | (Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Architekt HCU-Hamburg, Deutschland)
Bernd Nicolai | (Prof. em. Dr. BN Kunst- und Architekturhistoriker ehm. Universität Bern)
Christof Wamister | (Dr. phil. Vorstandsmitglied Basler Heimatschutz)
Conrad Kersting | (M.Sc. AAM Architekt FHNW, Basel)
Dominique Salathé | (Dipl. Arch. ETH BSA SIA Architekt Salathé Architekten Basel)
Dorothee Huber | (lic. phil. Architekturhistorikerin ehem. Mitglied Basler Denkmalrat)
Eike Roswang-Klinge | (Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Architekt, TU-Berlin)
Eric Honegger | (Dipl. Arch EPFL SIA Architekt Baubüro in situ, Denkstatt sàrl)
Erik Wegerhoff | (Prof. Dr. Dozent für Geschichte und Theorien der Architektur FHNW)
Fabian Hörmann | (Dipl.-Ing. Arch. Architekt YR22 Zürich, Universität Liechtenstein)
Florin Gstöhl | (Dr. des. SKR Architekturhistoriker, Restaurator bau[stoff]geschichte)
Freek Persyn | (Prof. Architekt ETH Zürich, 51N4E, Belgien)
Friederike Kluge | (Prof., Dipl.-Ing. Architektin BSA SIA, Alma Maki Architektur)
Gabu Heindl | (Prof. Dr. Mag.Arch., M.Arch.II Architektin, Stadtplanerin Universität Kassel, Österreich)
Hannes Langguth | (V-Prof. Dr.-Ing. des. Architekt und Stadtplaner, HafenCity Universität Hamburg)
Heiko Schiller | (Dipl.-Ing. Arch. SIA Architekt SAG Architektur Basel)
Jakob Schneider | (M.A. FHNW SIA Architekt Salathé Architekten Basel)
Jean-Philippe Vassal | (Prof. em Architekt Lacaton & Vassal Paris, UdK Berlin)
Julia Siedle | (Prof. M.Sc. Architektin, Städtebauerin Hochschule Biberach)
Kerstin Müller | (Dipl.-Ing. Architektin ReUse-Expertin)
Laura Hindelang | (Prof. Dr. Architekturgeschichte und Denkmalpflege Assistenzprofessorin Universität Bern)
Lukas Gruntz | (M.A. FHNW Architekt Architektur Basel)
Marc Keller | (lic. phil. Präsident Basler Heimatschutz)
Martin Risch | (Dipl. Arch. ETH BSA SIA Architekt Stereo Architektur)
Nanni Grau | (Prof. Architektin Architektur der Transformation, TU Berlin)
Renée Tribble | (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Architektin TU Dortmund)
Saikal Zhunushova | (M.A. ZFH Architektin OEKOFACTA Winterthur)
Sarah Barth | (M.Sc. Arch. ETH Architektin Atelier für Architektologie, Basel)
Stefan Rettich | (Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Architekt Universität Kassel)
Tim Seidel | (Prof. Dipl. Arch. ETH Architekt BHSF Architektur & Städtebau)
...
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Andreas Ruby | (Mag.Phil. Kunsthistoriker S AM Swiss Architecture Museum)
Anne Lacaton | (Prof. em Architektin Lacaton & Vassal Paris, ETH Zürich)
Axel Christoph Gampp | (Prof. Dr. Kunstgeschichte Uni Basel und BFH)
Axel Humpert | (Prof. Dipl. Arch. ETH Architekt BHSF Architektur & Städtebau)
Axel Schubert | (Dipl.-Ing. SRL FSU Architekt, Stadtplaner Dozent Nachhaltigkeit)
Barbara Buser | (Dipl. Arch. ETH Architektin, Bestandsanwältin, ReUse-Pionierin Baubüro in situ)
Ben Pohl | (M.Sc. Dipl.-Des. Urban Designer Denkstatt sàrl, B/IAS)
Bernd Kniess | (Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Architekt HCU-Hamburg, Deutschland)
Bernd Nicolai | (Prof. em. Dr. BN Kunst- und Architekturhistoriker ehm. Universität Bern)
Christof Wamister | (Dr. phil. Vorstandsmitglied Basler Heimatschutz)
Conrad Kersting | (M.Sc. AAM Architekt FHNW, Basel)
Dominique Salathé | (Dipl. Arch. ETH BSA SIA Architekt Salathé Architekten Basel)
Dorothee Huber | (lic. phil. Architekturhistorikerin ehem. Mitglied Basler Denkmalrat)
Eike Roswang-Klinge | (Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Architekt, TU-Berlin)
Eric Honegger | (Dipl. Arch EPFL SIA Architekt Baubüro in situ, Denkstatt sàrl)
Erik Wegerhoff | (Prof. Dr. Dozent für Geschichte und Theorien der Architektur FHNW)
Fabian Hörmann | (Dipl.-Ing. Arch. Architekt YR22 Zürich, Universität Liechtenstein)
Florin Gstöhl | (Dr. des. SKR Architekturhistoriker, Restaurator bau[stoff]geschichte)
Freek Persyn | (Prof. Architekt ETH Zürich, 51N4E, Belgien)
Friederike Kluge | (Prof., Dipl.-Ing. Architektin BSA SIA, Alma Maki Architektur)
Gabu Heindl | (Prof. Dr. Mag.Arch., M.Arch.II Architektin, Stadtplanerin Universität Kassel, Österreich)
Hannes Langguth | (V-Prof. Dr.-Ing. des. Architekt und Stadtplaner, HafenCity Universität Hamburg)
Heiko Schiller | (Dipl.-Ing. Arch. SIA Architekt SAG Architektur Basel)
Jakob Schneider | (M.A. FHNW SIA Architekt Salathé Architekten Basel)
Jean-Philippe Vassal | (Prof. em Architekt Lacaton & Vassal Paris, UdK Berlin)
Julia Siedle | (Prof. M.Sc. Architektin, Städtebauerin Hochschule Biberach)
Kerstin Müller | (Dipl.-Ing. Architektin ReUse-Expertin)
Laura Hindelang | (Prof. Dr. Architekturgeschichte und Denkmalpflege Assistenzprofessorin Universität Bern)
Lukas Gruntz | (M.A. FHNW Architekt Architektur Basel)
Marc Keller | (lic. phil. Präsident Basler Heimatschutz)
Martin Risch | (Dipl. Arch. ETH BSA SIA Architekt Stereo Architektur)
Nanni Grau | (Prof. Architektin Architektur der Transformation, TU Berlin)
Renée Tribble | (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Architektin TU Dortmund)
Saikal Zhunushova | (M.A. ZFH Architektin OEKOFACTA Winterthur)
Sarah Barth | (M.Sc. Arch. ETH Architektin Atelier für Architektologie, Basel)
Stefan Rettich | (Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Architekt Universität Kassel)
Tim Seidel | (Prof. Dipl. Arch. ETH Architekt BHSF Architektur & Städtebau)
...
Would you like to become a supporter? Send an email to.
[email protected]