Basel decides for exhibition centre
Voters in Basel have approved a major extension to the city centre Basel Congress Centre, drawn up by local star architects Herzog and de Meuron.
Swiss Exhibition, which runs the site, wants to increase the space for highly successful fairs, such as the watch industry’s Baselworld.
Opponents had argued that the extension was too expensive and did not fit in with the city’s architecture.
The Exhibition Centre Basel 2012 project – expected to cost around SFr400 million ($389 million) – has already been approved by the local parliament.
A substantial part of the cost is being met by the canton: SFr70 million and a share acquisition of SFr13.4 million. The canton will also lend SFr30 million.
In 2004 voters refused another ambitious architectural project – the new city casino by British Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid.
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