Students: Dan Baoiu, Andri Werlen
Location: Group work in Basel
Date: January, 2007
Type: Research project, student work, rhine

The Rhine is the main unifying element within the region of MetroBasel. From the earliest times of history, the Rhine could be called the most „European“ of all streams, enabling transport, trade, exchange and communication across the whole continent. It played a fundamental role in the destiny of whole nations and empires, as exemplified by the Romans. Due to its central position in the unfolding of history, the Rhine has been called the „Schicksalsfluß der Deutschen“, the River of Destiny for the Germans.
The core city of Basel lies at the point where the Rhine becomes useable by boats, linking up the region to the North Sea and from then on, to the whole world. Basel is therefore the first port on the river, and represents the last port before reaching the Alps, connecting the region on ancient and contemporary trading routes to the Mediterranean.
Even though the Rhine is one of the origins and one of the major shaping force for the region, the relationship of the urbanized area to the river is not an easy one. Many parts of the stream are inaccessible to the public, blocked either by big corporations, by industrial functions or by infrastructure. In other parts, topography constrains access, squeezing the public promenades to narrow footpaths, forcing the pedestrians through shrubs and over muddy terrain. Even though the Basler Personenschifffahrt prides itself with its long tradition and wide ranging services and offers, the stream is not used for urban public transport at all anymore. And even though the river figures very strongly in the minds of the population throughout MetroBasel, the time that each person spends in context of the river is severly limited.
How could the function of the Rhine as a unifying element of the region be reinforced? How can we clear all blockages that are currently inhibiting access to the river, to enable public access from Rheinfelden to Kembs? Can we make it into a truly public space, 50 kilometers in length. Can we use the river as a means of public transport? Can we move activities to the river, or can we bring the river to the places of public presence? What function does or can the Rhine perform for MetroBasel, along its whole length?