Conversation point: Tom Kundig creates 'Outpost Basel' for Design Miami/ Basel

Tom Kundig creates ’Outpost Basel’ for Design Miami/ Basel
'Outpost Basel', the American architect Tom Kundig's latest collaboration with Design Miami/ adds a further stimulus to the week's design conversations around concepts of structures, sustainability and aesthetic.
(Image credit: Kevin Scott)

American architect Tom Kundig – of the practice Olson Kundig – continues his Design Miami/ collaboration with this year’s 'Basel lounge', which he developed for the Herzog & de Meuron-designed grounds. Titled 'Outpost Basel', the architect’s concept focuses on the juxtaposition of different wood tones, in what he describes as 'a yin and yang interplay' idea. Located at the end of the ample building, the lounge appears monumental from afar, revealing its multifaceted detail as one walks closer. 

A sustainable concept lies at its material core, with repurposed structural elements forming the separate spaces and furnishings. Austrian company Holzindustrie Schweighofer sourced and donated Romanian wood for the project; this was used for bricks arranged into a grid structure, and either left raw or finished with the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique of burning wood to preserve it, and protect it from insect damage and rotting. 

Like all of Kundig's works, the lounge has a multi-layered, flexible concept at its core, embracing several subtle design details. Its outer shell is formed of wide, flat panels arranged in X-shaped structures, a discreet celebration of the fair's tenth installment. Inside, a secluded area can be converted from a seating lounge to a talk space, complemented with a interactive light installation created by Seattle-based digital artist Glymmer. 

Open to collectors and VIPs as a bar and lounge area, the pavilion adds further stimulus to the week’s conversations around concepts of structure, sustainability and aesthetic.

Tom Kundig creates ’Outpost Basel’ for Design Miami/ Basel

The pavilion's outer shell is formed of wide flat panels arranged in X-shaped structures, a discreet celebration of the fair’s tenth installment. 

(Image credit: Kevin Scott)

Tom Kundig creates ’Outpost Basel’ for Design Miami/ Basel

Inside the lounge, a secluded area can be converted from a seating lounge to a talk space, enriched with a light installation created by Seattle-based digital artist Glymmer.

(Image credit: Kevin Scott)

Tom Kundig creates ’Outpost Basel’ for Design Miami/ Basel

Like all of Kundig's works, the lounge has a multi-layered, flexible concept at its core, and holds several subtle design details.

(Image credit: Kevin Scott)

Tom Kundig creates ’Outpost Basel’ for Design Miami/ Basel

A sustainable concept lies at the pavilion's core, with repurposed structural elements forming the different spaces and furnishings.

(Image credit: Kevin Scott)

Tom Kundig creates ’Outpost Basel’ for Design Miami/ Basel

Austrian company Holzindustrie Schweighofer sourced and donated Romanian wood for the project, which was used for bricks arranged into a grid structure, and either left raw or finished with the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique (where wood is burned to protect it from insects and rotting). 

(Image credit: Kevin Scott)

ADDRESS

Hall 1 Süd
Messe Basel 
Messeplatz Basel
Switzerland

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Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.