Revitalizing Lindenberg 21: The Hirscheneck Plans for a Social and Cultural Hub in Basel

2024-03-22 19:36:53

Left-wing scene bar

Lindenberg 21: It is now clear what the “Hirscheneck” plans to do with the neighboring house

Lindenberg 21 in Basel was bought by the “Hirschenecks” umbrella cooperative. A cultural area with social interest should be created there.

Are part of the collective that will use Lindenberg 21 in the future (from left): Claudia Berger, Luca Piazzalonga, Jürgen Saalfrank. Here in the former rooms of the street kitchen.

Bild: Kenneth Nars

It is now clear what will happen to the property at Lindenberg 21 in Basel: The Hirscheneck umbrella cooperative, which recently acquired the building, wants to use the building for social and cultural purposes. “We want to create a collectively organized, low-threshold space,” says Jürgen Saalfrank, a member of the umbrella cooperative.

Vacant for three years

The previous owner of Lindenberg 21 was the Christoph Merian Foundation (CMS). The street kitchen was rented in the basement, ground floor and first floor until 2021. She left the building during the corona pandemic due to lack of space, and three floors of the building have been empty since then.

Now belong together: Lindenberg 21 (left) and the Restaurant Hirscheneck (right).

Now belong together: Lindenberg 21 (left) and the Restaurant Hirscheneck (right).

Bild: Kenneth Nars

A shared apartment has been at home on the second and third floors since 2012 and now has eight people. Shortly after moving out of the alley kitchen, this shared apartment founded the Vario association, which wanted to revitalize the empty rooms.

But in the summer of 2022, the CMS put the property up for sale for 2.2 million francs.

No luxury apartments desired

The umbrella cooperative became aware of the sale: “In our eyes, it makes sense to withdraw houses from the real estate market and use them for social projects,” says Saalfrank.

But it wasn’t just political reasons that played a role in the purchase. Because the “Hirscheneck” is also a nightclub. “We rely on tenants living in the house who allow us to continue to hold concerts and parties in the basement,” says Luca Piazzalonga, who is primarily responsible for the Hirscheneck cellar.

And the shared apartment was also interested in ensuring that no luxury apartments were built in the house: “We are all active in the cultural or social sector and depend on cheap living space,” says resident and Vario member Claudia Berger.

Here the street kitchen distributed food for socially disadvantaged people.

Here the street kitchen distributed food for socially disadvantaged people.

Image: Lisa Kwasny

A martial arts school wants to set up a training room in this basement.

A martial arts school wants to set up a training room in this basement.

Image: Lisa Kwasny

That’s why the umbrella cooperative approached the CMS. The CMS was convinced by the idea and sold the Lindenberg 21 to the umbrella cooperative for a reduced price of 1.15 million francs. They justify this to the bz with the social background of the project.

Space for music, sports and theater

The umbrella cooperative handed over the management of the rooms to the Vario association. “We don’t just want to rent out the rooms, we want them to be used collectively,” says Claudia Berger. Which groups are involved will be presented at the Hirscheneck birthday party on April 30th. But Berger already reveals this much: “The rooms will be used for music, theater and dance rehearsals and meetings.” A martial arts school wants to train in the basement.

Rehearsals are already taking place here for the concert on Saturday.  A string trio plays classical pieces.

Rehearsals are already taking place here for the concert on Saturday. A string trio plays classical pieces.

Image: Lisa Kwasny

“For the ‘Hirscheneck’, the purchase means an opportunity to not only be a punk rock cellar, but also to have space for cabaret,” says Piazzalonga.

What this looks like will be shown on April 30th. A small insight is already available on Saturday: a string trio plays classical pieces in the atmosphere of a living room concert.

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