The building is part of the "campus" of the concern, which has existed since the 1930s in the Kleinbasel district. This complex was originally built by the prominent Swiss master of the modern movement, Rudolf Otto Salvisberg. Now this ensemble is being renovated, but all the new buildings are kept in the same spirit of "classical" modernism.
Building B97 was no exception: since there are no fully glazed structures in its surroundings, Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron used only strip glazing on the facade, alternating with whitewashed strips of concrete. Unlike pre-war buildings, B97 glass and concrete are not measured in equal proportions: the stripes differ from each other in width and configuration.
The building with research laboratories is divided into two parts: 20-meter (5 floors) and 40-meter (9 floors); in addition, there is a spacious underground "base" of three tiers.
This is not the only building of the most famous Basel architects for Roche: in particular, next to the B97
a tower will be built, which will be the tallest in Switzerland (175 m).
N. F.
