Herzog & de Meuron SBB, Switzerland’s national railway company, has led high-density development by utilizing prime station-adjacent land in major urban centers. One representative example is theNO. 418 Meret Oppenheim Tower, located in the Gundeldinger Quarter of Basel and forming part of the Sudpark ensemble. In 2002, Herzog & de Meuron won the competition organized by SBB, and the tower was completed in 2012. Together with Sudpark, the project created a new spatial context for accessing Basel’s main station and contributed to transforming the neighborhood into a district of diversity and vitality.
The tower is the result of stacking volumes of different sizes. Through multiple design phases, its proportions, dimensions, and functions were tested against urbanistic and programmatic expectations. The final form places a tall building between the wide railway tracks on one side and the narrower historic fabric of Gundeli on the other. The stacking also generated a topography of terraces, platforms, and voids, producing diverse indoor and outdoor spaces. The ground floor hosts a restaurant, above which are five floors of offices. From the 6th to the 24th floor, the tower accommodates residences, with large outdoor spaces provided on the 6th, 7th, and 15th floors, offering views over the city and surrounding landscape.
The facade is defined by a folding and sliding shutter system. A balcony layer creates depth and functions as a transitional zone between interior and exterior. The building constantly transforms in response to external conditions such as sunlight and wind, reflecting the individuality of its residents and fostering dialogue with the surrounding community.

Herzog & de Meuron
Herzog & de Meuron is an international architectural firm based in Basel, Switzerland. Since its establishment in 1978, it has been exploring how architecture can meet the needs of a rapidly changing world, providing tailored solutions for every project