Metropolitan Analysis

Guidelines for an energy strategic project in Basel

The metropolitan analysis contains analytical maps of various aspects on a metropolitan scale in relation to Basel’s historical development, topographical nature, mobility patterns and typological composition. In order to approach our research topic Energy and the Metropolis from an architectural and urbanistic perspective we would like to emphasize the importance of understanding energy not merely as direct energy consumption but as embodied energy as well. For our research this means that we intend to analyse and work with the existing urban fabric as much as possible rather than a scenario of demolition and construction. In relation to this premise we therefore intend to provide an analysis that shows equally quantitative and qualitative characteristics of specific spatial configurations within the built environment in relation to embodied energy, spatial conditions, mix of uses, mobility and transformation potentials it could be transformed over time. Thereby, it is the aim to extend the current public debate on sustainable urban development beyond mere technical and functional solutions at the building scale to a broader urban typological viewpoint within existing cities. As we believe that the issue of energy is inextricably related to urban quality, the way we live together and in which way we experience space, it cannot be discussed as a mere technical problem with.  In this sense, case studies of representative urban types within the Basel Metropolitan Region (MetroBasel) are undertaken to develop transformation strategies that relate to specific conditions which then hold the potential of being extended to comparable types within other cities.