Are decisions regarding the place made jointly and transparently?

The Foyer Public opened in spring 2021 as a public urban space within Theater Basel. It is located in the foyer of the large and small stages (Grosse and Kleine Bühne) and is open daily except Mondays from 11 am to 6 pm. Visitors to the Foyer Public can use it as a meeting place, for working, reading and dancing, for yoga or simply for doing nothing. The only rule is: be considerate to others. Two employees from AskMe keep an eye on things and are there to help if visitors or users have any questions.

Does the place serve its purpose?

Theater Basel makes this large space available to everyone during the day. During the colder months and on rainy days, it offers a sheltered place to linger that can be enjoyed without having to consume something. In the summer season, the Foyer Public seamlessly transitions to the urban outdoor space. A café, a library, a children’s corner, workstations, dance floors, a pink grand piano, many different seating options, and even free events for children as well as adults round out the offerings.

Is the place maintained and sustainably developed?

After more than 40 years of use, the property from the 1970s is undergoing renovation between 2014 and 2022 while it remains in operation. The noisy and dusty work is being carried out during the summer breaks. In this way, Theater Basel will be brought up to today’s standards with regard to building and stage technology as well as fire and climate protection. The project shows: it is possible to rehabilitate instead of demolish and to keep a theatre in operation instead of closing its doors, if those in charge want to do so.

Will the place remain attractive in the long term for living, working, leisure and/or tourism?

With its Foyer Public, the other cultural institutions in the vicinity and the Tinguely Fountain at its doorstep, Theater Basel offers city residents an attractive place to pass the time and a place of identification on the Steinenberg. With free use of the Foyer Public during the day, the space is used more effectively and more diversely than before the renovation. This openness reduces inhibitions towards the cultural institution and maybe even attracts new theatregoers.

Does the place bring different people together?

The Foyer Public promotes activities that bring people together. It may be that users organise themselves, people meet by chance on the spot, or the theatre offers events such as Danse Public. With this event, Theater Basel also reaches out to people with disabilities. Proof that the Foyer Public is serious about inclusion is that it employs a staff member specifically for this purpose. The goal is a coexistence of the theatrical world and the real world under one roof.

Was the place thoroughly analysed prior to the intervention?

The building, designed by architects Schwarz & Gutmann and opened in 1975, is dominated by a mighty suspended concrete roof – at the time a pioneering achievement by civil engineer Heinz Hossdorf. The distinctive building with its idiosyncratic silhouette and façade is a listed historic monument. The renovation must comply with the conditions imposed by the authorities for monument preservation.

Does the place contribute to social cohesion?

The Foyer Public sees itself as a neutral and open space where a non-hierarchical and diverse exchange is free to take place. With this offer of a public living room, Theater Basel aims to facilitate access to the institution by lowering thresholds. The explicit idea is to encourage spontaneous, surprising and new interactions to take place here. This openness and participation in the shared space of a theatre are new to Switzerland. Consequently, Theater Basel sees Foyer Public as an experiment that will be observed and adjusted if necessary.

Does the place’s beauty contribute to people’s well-being?

With its cascading staircase, vaulted ceiling and various levels, the grand foyer itself becomes a stage. Access to various outdoor spaces and large windows with benches from which to watch the goings-on anchor the building within the city. High-quality, robust furniture plus balanced lighting and soothing acoustics confer the space a cosy feel despite its size. The dual use as a public living room during the day and a reception space for theatre guests in the evening seems to be a success. We wish for more places like this.