BASEL-STADT: 4 PRoPoSALS - ETH Basel

Schifflände
The Schifflände is the oldest port of Basle and a square of
the “Grossbasler Altstadt”. The guild “Zu Schiffleuten“ was
founded in 1354 and had their headquarters there. The square
lies on the left of the Rhine by the “Mittlere Rheinbrücke”,
right where the “Rheintor” - probably built by Bishop Heinrich
von Thun in 1225/26 - as part of the old town wall, was.
The “Rheintor” was torn down in 1839, when it became a
hindrance to traffic. A new trade route was established. From
then on all merchandise from the south, coming over the
alps to the north and vice versa, had to cross the Rhine.
Because of their well founded connections, the Basle
bishops saw to it, that all trade kept to that route, and so
they and the town flourished commercially. The foundation
to a rich commercial center was laid.
There are only few buildings that proved as important for the
fate of Basle as was the bridge over the Rhine.
– Food in Basel II – – City Core: Central Market –
Nowadays the initial function as a harbour has passed
although the site still marks an important situation for
public transport.
– 536 – – 537 –
DRAFT
Schifflände today
© ETH Studio Basel