The story
When Christina Hess came across the IBS (Immobilien Basel-Stadt) tender for an operating concept in connection with a house community organisation in autumn 2022, she immediately recognised the potential for the scene of freelance musicians and classical music ensembles in Basel. She brought Alice Borciani and Johanna Bartz on board to help her develop a utilisation concept - which enabled them to win the IBS tender in early 2023. Since then, as the tonRaum association, they have been developing and planning behind the scenes of the CoDeck building's renovation.
Located in the immediate vicinity of Basel harbour on the small river Wiese, the property was originally built in 1965 as an administrative building for the Swiss Rhine ports and was used by the Office for Environment and Energy until 2021.
The architecture firm Kooperative E45 from Basel won a project competition for the conversion with its innovative ideas, which make optimum use of the building's north-south orientation.
In addition to 27 flats, most of which will be rented out to low-income households as part of the 1000+ housing project, the building will now house ensemble rehearsal rooms, practice and teaching rooms, guest flats for visiting musicians and co-working spaces. The rooms can be rented from October 2025 on.
