oppenheim architecture wraps muttenz’s water treatment plant in an ever-changing facade

designed as a new landmark for the swiss town of muttenz and the basel area, oppenheim architecture‘s  new municipal water purification plant ties organically into the natural setting. the building integrates technology, education and preservation as its main components, while its expressive architecture and choice of materials make for a timeless icon in the area.

images courtesy of oppenheim architecture (rasem kamal , aaron kohler, beat huesler), main image by börje müller

the muttenz drinking water treatment plant spreads across 650 acres as a model of sustainability, extremely sensitive to its contrasting setting near the rhine riverfront. settled between the protected forest and the nearby industrial parks, the structure features natural materials that mature harmoniously together with the site, while its ever-changing facade is designed to require minimal maintenance.

oppenheim architecture has realized the town’s vision for an interactive community experience through linking state-of- the-art technology with the purification process and the surrounding ecosystem within the building. the project exhibits an educational factor to express the complex purification process in a stressed environment, drawing the community with its subtle iconic presence and interior gallery spaces.

image by börje müller

image by börje müller image by börje müller image by börje müller

project info:

name: muttenz water treatment plant

architect: oppenheim architecture

principal in charge: beat huesler

project contributors: frederic borruat, aleksandra melion

renderings: buro b-c, paris

location: muttenz, switzerland

total floor area: 650 acres

materials: local stone, clay mixture, glass, metals