Basel Without Trams? Herzog & de Meuron’s Urban Vision

Architects Herzog & de Meuron have proposed a vision for Basel in which the historic city centre would be freed from trams and heavy public transport traffic.

The idea focuses on returning space to pedestrians, public life, and urban calm — shifting the emphasis from movement to experience.

From a practical perspective, such proposals raise important questions:

How should cities balance mobility and liveability?

Can transport infrastructure be reorganised without reducing accessibility?

Urban planning is rarely about extremes. It is about transition — testing ideas, adjusting systems, and improving functionality over time.

Whether this concept becomes reality or remains theoretical, it reflects a broader discussion happening across Europe:

How do we redesign cities for the future without compromising efficiency?

🇨🇭 Basel

🏙 Urban development

🚋 Public transport & city planning

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