How Basel-Landschaft creates spaces for innovation and living
Innovative neighbourhoods, campuses and parks are springing up on industrial sites in the Basel area. Flexible architecture, sustainable energy, smart mobility and new working environments are transforming various areas into laboratories for the future of the region.
Basel-Landschaft is building for the future. Former industrial sites are being transformed into innovative campuses, flexible business parks and urban neighbourhoods. Dreispitz combines art, education and high-tech on the cantonal border and creates space for 4,000 jobs, research and sustainable architecture at the highest level. Uptown Basel in Arlesheim is positioning itself as a hotspot for Industry 4.0 and medtech with quantum computing pioneers and an ecological beacon character. New neighbourhoods in Muttenz, BusinessCity and AM SCHÄNZLI combine living and working spaces, green open spaces and climate-friendly mobility, further enhancing the location’s profile as a centre of knowledge and innovation.
In Pratteln, Bredella, the Campus der Wirtschaft and Zentrale Pratteln are creating modern urban living spaces that focus on sustainable development, smart infrastructure and flexible usage concepts. In Allschwil, Bachgraben is developing into a leading life sciences location with the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area, where biotech, medtech and pharmaceutical companies are driving forward cutting-edge research and high-tech innovations. The Laufen Industrial Park and Ziegelei Ost in Allschwil are creating momentum for regional production, craftsmanship and community, with a focus on the circular economy and CO² reduction. GETEC PARK is a growth engine for chemistry and life sciences, driven by decarbonisation and ESG standards.
Basel-Land thus demonstrates how diversity, sustainability and innovative strength are driving transformation.
Dreispitz
Dreispitz in Münchenstein (Basel-Landschaft) is one of the most diverse areas in the Basel region. It combines art, education and business. Over 380 companies and around 4,000 jobs characterise the Dreispitz business park, flanked by universities such as the FHNW and creative clusters. The intercantonal site offers space for innovative companies, start-ups, culture and modern educational institutions. A vital location for the future of the entire region.
uptownBasel
uptownBasel is currently building the future. Since 2019, a state-of-the-art innovation campus has been under construction for the jobs of the coming decades. The world-renowned dental implant manufacturer Straumann will relocate a total of 1,000 jobs to the forward-looking development area by 2028. Arlesheim will thus become the most important hotspot for medical technology in Switzerland. The campus, which is being rapidly developed by the Staehelin family and Fankhauser Arealentwicklungen, features several buildings already under construction with sustainable architecture of the highest standard. The roof deck has attracted worldwide attention and, together with the seminar and event rooms, is helping to make the site the state-of-the-art centrepiece of the Baselland industrial location.
Laufen Industrial Park
The Laufen Industrial Park is located on the former tile factory site of Keramik Laufen AG on the south-eastern edge of the city and has been owned by the Abendrot Foundation since 2017. Following the major fire in 2020, which destroyed around 80% of the building, the commercial site will be rebuilt between 2025 and 2027 as single-storey timber frame buildings. The aim is to create a modern, affordable offering for small regional businesses, craftsmen and creative professionals, with flexible rental spaces and individual expansion options. A network of commercial streets ensures good access, lighting and promotes networking among users. Densification and multi-storey extensions are possible in order to respond flexibly to regional demand. The focus is on sustainability. The concept is characterised by the reuse of building components, wood instead of concrete and renewable energy. An area association is to strengthen cohesion. The overall result will be a regionally relevant, versatile and sustainable commercial centre.
AM SCHÄNZLI
The new AM SCHÄNZLI district in Muttenz marks an urban reinterpretation of living, working and leisure at the gateway to Basel. By 2029, three high-rise buildings with 385 apartments and 14,000 m² of commercial space will be built on the 74,000 m² “Hagnau Ost” site. A central square and intensive greening lend urban density a quality of life right next to the Birs recreation area. The focus is on resource-saving construction, energy efficiency (SNBS Gold), photovoltaics and optimised mobility for pedestrians and cyclists. AM SCHÄNZLI stands for modern location development and the sustainable integration of city and nature.
BaseLink site
The Bachgraben site in Allschwil has developed into a driver of innovation in Basel. The location combines international life science companies, state-of-the-art research and sustainable urban development. Projects such as the BaseLink site and new public transport and cycling initiatives are creating attractive jobs and an urban environment. Close cooperation between the canton, municipality and business community ensures dynamism and makes the area a showcase project in the tri-national region.
Business campus
The new business campus is located directly next to the railway station in Pratteln and is developing into one of the most important event and work locations in the Basel area. By 2028, the H² building will become a state-of-the-art centrepiece. Six floors offer over 10,000 m² of flexible laboratory, event and office space, complemented by a congress hall for up to 1,900 people and a total of more than 6,000 m² of event space. The campus is aimed at companies from industry, research and services, with sustainable architecture, optimal accessibility, infrastructure from a single source and synergies with the Bredella district. The development strengthens the region’s competitiveness and positions Pratteln as an international centre for innovation, exchange and major events.
GETEC PARK.MUTTENZ
GETEC PARK.MUTTENZ is the leading industrial cluster in north-western Switzerland for chemicals, pharmaceuticals and life sciences. It combines state-of-the-art infrastructure, secure laboratory and logistics space, and sustainable energy and resource concepts on 50 hectares. The park, which emerged from Infrapark Baselland and Schweizerhalle, is home to global corporations and numerous SMEs. Innovative solutions such as Waste2Value and ESG-based processes make GETEC a growth engine for the industry.
Pratteln headquarters
The Pratteln headquarters project is transforming the former Coop site north of the railway station into a lively, ecologically and socially oriented neighbourhood. By 2026, around 480 cooperative apartments for 1,200 people will be built, complemented by a new school, around 15,000 m² of commercial space and a variety of open spaces. Construction and planning are consistently focused on preserving existing structures, reusing building components and sustainable energy supply. Historic industrial buildings such as the sugar silo will be preserved. The cooperation of six developers and the innovative utilisation concept make Pratteln Headquarters a showcase project for non-profit and sustainable neighbourhood development in the Basel region.
Bredella in Pratteln
Bredella in Pratteln represents the large-scale transformation of a central industrial area into an innovative urban quarter. In the immediate vicinity of the railway station, 87,000 m² of diverse residential, work and leisure facilities are being created, interspersed with green spaces and renovated industrial buildings. The master plan and neighbourhood plans focus on gradual development, sustainable mobility and a high quality of life. With a perimeter block, high-rise buildings, commercial and studio space, car-free areas and lively ground floors, a model for urban living in the Basel area is being created. Bredella boldly combines modernity, history and sustainable development.
Ziegelei Ost
Ziegelei Ost in Allschwil is undergoing a comprehensive transformation into a lively, mixed-use neighbourhood. Historic buildings are being carefully preserved and combined with new uses for living, working and recreation. The neighbourhood is characterised by large green spaces, diverse public spaces and a finely meshed network of paths connecting three central squares: Kulturplatz, Quartierplatz and Lettenwiese. The industrial tradition remains evident through the preservation of the brickworks halls and their integration into modern structures. The project focuses on circularity, the reuse of building components and flexible new buildings to ensure climate protection, sustainability and a high quality of life.