Not In My Backyard

This project investigates the latent potential of Basel’s backyards (Hinterhöfe) by repurposing existing structures such as garages and old workshop buildings—remnants of 20th-century infrastructure. The initiative aims to reimagine property ownership and proposes transforming these garages into new, low-profit housing units, thereby revitalising the courtyards as semi-public spaces. The individual living units are designed with a lightweight and easily disassembled construction system. Beyond the housing units, the courtyard is enhanced with café and office spaces, fostering a vibrant microcosm and promoting diversity. This transformation also results in new connecting routes within the city fabric, providing a seamless link between Klingelbergstrasse and Maiengasse. These new pathways enhance urban mobility and accessibility, integrating the courtyard development more cohesively into the surrounding urban landscape.