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Local News Summary of August, 10th

  • Renewal of Rosentalstrasse: A lot of noise and six weeks of complete closure for trams in autumn
  • Bathing forbidden now also in the Birs
  • Gio Ponti’s revolutionary car design is brought to life at «Grand Basel» exhibition after 65 long years

  

Renewal of Rosentalstrasse: A lot of noise and six weeks of complete closure for trams in autumn

Construction work has been in full swing between Messeplatz and Badischer Bahnhof since the start of July. The tram tracks, electricity, gas, and water pipes are old and have to be overhauled. However, the main construction phase will not start until mid-September, when all tram traffic will be suspended for six weeks.

Underground pipes and the road surface at Rosentalstrasse are being renewed. In addition, the tram tracks between Badischer Bahnhof and Messeplatz are already over 17 years old and in poor condition. The civil engineering office, the Basel Transport Services (BVB), and the Basel Industrial Works (IWB) have determined the schedule and scope for the renovation of Rosentalstrasse in such a way that tram tracks, lines, as well as roads can be renovated using a single construction site.

The gate to Siberia

The Rosentalstrasse is not particularly nice to look at. Roger Reinauer, cantonal engineer and head of the Basel-Stadt civil engineering office, knows an anecdote. «A Dutch city planner who once visited us in Basel and arrived at the Badischer Bahnhof by train, looked in the direction of Messeplatz and said it looked like the gate to Siberia.»

The Traffic and Construction Department is making use of the necessary work to transform Rosentalstrasse into an inviting residential and business street. The road will be narrowed, the pavement will be widened and the tram rails moved. In addition, 20 new trees will be planted along the road.

No tram traffic for six weeks

But the biggest changes will happen underground. And this major reconstruction work is forcing the project managers of the IWB, BVB, and the civil engineering office to perform a balancing act. «We always have to weigh our interests on construction sites like this: On the one hand, road users do not want to do without the usual connections for long; and on the other hand, a shorter construction period always means restrictions for local residents», project manager, Annarita Vintan, stated.

And to speed things up a little, there will be a complete closure of the tram traffic from 10 September to 21 October between the Badischer Bahnhof and Messeplatz. During this period, the BVB are renewing the tracks and the stops at Badischer Bahnhof. This will create level tram stops which will help people with disabilities to board the trams.

To ensure that the line is only closed for six weeks, some of the work must be carried out in three-shift operation around the clock during seven days a week. This in turn naturally means a great burden and restriction for local residents and businesses. «During the main construction phase, up to 100 Bertschmann employees will be working on the construction site», said Daniel Schuhmann, project manager at BVB.

Residents can go to hotel

The renovation work on the tracks on Schwarzwaldallee near Badischer Bahnhof will be particularly complicated and noisy. «Since the Schwarzwaldtunnel runs beneath the tracks, the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) has to seal the roof of the tunnel and take the opportunity to renovate it as well», Mr Schuhmann said.

The residents of the Schwarzwaldallee were informed by the Federal Traffic Department about the noisiest times and have the opportunity to take the offer of a a hotel room for eleven nights in September. «However, experience has shown that most residents prefer to stay in their homes because the noise work may only be carried out until 10pm» Annarita Vitan stated.

During the six-week break, replacement buses will run on tram lines 2 and 6 between Messeplatz and Lake Eglisee. In the Schwarzwaldallee, traffic runs on only one lane in each direction. However, the bus lines 30, 36 and 55 will run as usual.

Trams will travel through Rosentalstrasse as usual until the start of Basel’s autumn fair on 27 October. However, the construction will last until June 2019.

Bathing forbidden now also in the Birs

Following the heat-related bathing ban for the Wiese river, swimmers are told to also stay away from the Birs. Due to water temperatures of up to 27 degrees Celsius, the fish in the two rivers are particularly endangered and are therefore receiving additional protection. 

The Fisheries Authority of the canton of Baselland has issued a bathing and access ban for peoplesand animals for the Birs, Birsfelden, between the Zürcher-/Hauptstrassenbrücke and the Redingbrücke in Baselland. The ban remains in place for both people and pets until revoked.

The low water levels in connection with the high water temperatures in the rivers and streams has lead to heat stress for the local fish population. The situation is not expected to become better in the next few days, despite the predicted cooling and the arrival of rainfall. The fish are looking around for cooler and more oxygenated water areas. Therefore, hundreds of nase, a fish species threatened by extinction in Switzerland, have in the last week left the warm Rhine and are heading up the cooler Birs river by Redingbrücke bridge. The same applies to the cold-loving graylings, which are threatened by death caused by heat stress at water temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius.

Last week, the fishing authorities of the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Baselland appealed to the public to not go bathing in the Birs. However, regular observations showed that the appeal had little or no effect. The affected areas were still frequented by people and their dogs. Looking at the high temperatures of the past few days and the low water levels, entering the Birs is a danger to the currently last regional refuge of the graylings and nase.

To ensure the survival of endangered fish, the Fishing Authorities of the canton of Baselland – together with the responsible authorities in Basel-Stadt and the municipality of Birsfelden – have decided to prohibit swimming in the Birs and deny access to the signalled areas between the Zürcher-/Hauptstrassenbrücke and the Redingbrücke.

Swimming in the Rhine is still allowed. The authorities are asking people to also avoid the delicate and deep areas of other rivers in the canton of Baselland where swimming has so far not been banned. 

Gio Ponti’s revolutionary car design is brought to life at «Grand Basel» exhibition after 65 long years

As part of its premiere in September 2018, the «Grand Basel» car exhibition show will prepare the stage for the debut of a fascinating vehicle design as a salon for automotive masterpieces: Designed in 1953 by the renowned architect and industrial designer Gio Ponti, the «Linea Diamante» vehicle will finally see the light of day – 65 years after its conception.

Gio Ponti (1891-1979) created numerous cult objects, including the 32-storey Pirelli high-rise in Milan, considered one of the most elegant skyscrapers in the world, and the famous «Superleggera» chair, a symbol of lightness from both an aesthetic and physical point of view. In 1928, he co-founded the influential architecture and design magazine Domus, which celebrates its 90th birthday in 2018 and supports «Grand Basel» as a partner.

The revolutionary «Linea Diamante» vehicle

In 1953, Ponti designed a vehicle based on design principles that had never before been used in the automotive industry with the support of his colleague Alberto Rosselli. Beginning with an aerodynamic tear shape, they quickly developed the more angular «Linea Diamante» (diamond-shaped line).

For Ponti, his new method was an inevitable reaction to the portly design of the time: cars characteristically had wide, bulbous forms, small windows, and dark interiors. In comparison, Ponti followed an architectural approach with flat body parts and windows, as well as a lush glass section that would offer a light-flooded interior.

The sophisticated car body was designed to emphasise the functional aspect of the car and planned for a generously dimensioned passenger compartment as well as a spacious boot. The clever innovation of an all-round bumper made of rubber – with spring-loaded «bumpers» at the front and rear – was also to result of a special collaboration with the tyre manufacturer Pirelli.

At first, the car was to be mounted on the chassis of an Alfa Romeo 1900 Limousine, which is why Ponti initially sought a partnership with the Milan-based company Carrozzeria Touring. Later, turned to Fiat for the production of a small car, but the design was rejected. Two decades later, the design ideas of Ponti’s vehicle concept could be found in numerous cars: Clear proof of his genius and his farsightedness! To this day, only models up to a scale of 1:10 of Ponti’s car have been produced.

«The Automobile by Ponti» project

In 2018 – 65 years after Gio Ponti invented the innovative form – the fascinating vehicle was brought to life thanks to the efforts of the «The Automobile by Ponti» project.

The model of the «Linea Diamante» vehicle, first shown at the «Grand Basel», has been created in its original size and was built by a team of designers under the direction of Roberto Giolito, Head of FCA Heritage, following Ponti’s original drawings: A proper appreciation of his extraordinary creative talent. Pirelli contributed historical tyres with the correct specification for an Alfa Romeo 1900 as a reference to the first collaboration with Ponti in 1953.

«Grand Basel is not just another motor show, but a unique opportunity to begin a discourse on all artistic and inspirational aspects of the automotive context», Professor Paolo Tumminelli, Chairman of the Grand Basel Board of Trustees, said.

«Throughout history, the automobile has influenced and been shaped by design, architecture and art. The “The Automobile by Ponti” project is the epitome of this varied interdependence», Professor Tumminelli, who launched the project in 2017, explained.

«We are happy to present Ponti’s “Linea Diamante” vehicle in its original size for the first time at Grand Basel. This is exactly what we promised our visitors: something unexpected they had never seen before», Mark Backé, Global Director of Grand Basel, noted.

Salvatore Licitra, representative of the Gio Ponti Archives and grandson of Gio Ponti, added: «It is truly remarkable that this design has now taken shape for the first time, 65 years after the original drawings were created. At the time, the car was considered too radical, but many of its features were an elementary part of vehicle design two decades later.»

«When the idea of building Gio Ponti’s visionary car was brought to us, we enthusiastically agreed to the project. The collaboration fits perfectly with Domus, which was founded in 1928 by Gio Ponti and will be celebrating its 90th birthday this year», Maria Giovanna Mazzocchi, CEO of Editoriale Domus-Verlag, stated. «We have tackled this tremendous challenge with enthusiasm and are proud and satisfied with the results.»

Exhibition of extraordinary designs at «Grand Basel»

The unique and independent board of trustees of «Grand Basel» consists of leading personalities from the fields of culture, design, architecture, and art.

Thus, it is more than fitting that the «The Automobile by Ponti» project will make its international debut at this show, where lovers and experts from these fields can exchange views on the cultural and historical reference points of Ponti’s Design.

Architecture as a source of inspiration for the exhibition format

Exceptional automobiles are presented at «Grand Basel» in an extraordinary setting, thanks to the courageous exhibition concept. Contemporary architecture was the inspiration for the unified design, which eschews the often nostalgic ambience of established car shows. Instead, the vehicles will be exhibited in an environment reminiscent of modern museums.

The first «Grand Basel Show» will take place between 6 and 9 September in Basel. Further shows are to follow in Miami Beach from 22 to 24 February 2019 and in Hong Kong in May 2019.