The Lysbüchel Süd district in Basel has reached completion after more than a decade of progressive urban development, with the final piece of the puzzle being the LysP8 residential building designed by Loeliger Strub Architektur from Zurich. This innovative project represents the culmination of an ambitious urban renewal initiative that transformed a former industrial area into a vibrant residential neighborhood through a series of unique, socially conscious housing developments.

The LysP8 building stands out for its comprehensive re-use concept, developed in collaboration with Zirkular (Basel/Zurich), and features flexible floor plans that maximize space efficiency with minimal resources. The project occupies the western corner of the block and consists of a point tower connected to a long building through an open, scaffold-like circulation zone. With a total usable area of 1,440 square meters, the building presents different facades depending on the viewing angle - featuring a clearly defined facade of dark bricks with red and deep blue shutters on the southwest side, while opening up with cantilevered balconies and platforms on the opposite side.

The transformation of Lysbüchel Süd began in 2013 when the Habitat Foundation acquired the 12,400 square meter site, dividing it into 15 parcels and granting building rights primarily to cooperatives with the requirement of long-term non-commercial use. This approach resulted in a neighborhood that is as diverse in its social composition as it is in its architectural expression. Previously completed projects include works by renowned firms such as Stereo Architektur, Esch Sintzel Architekten (now studio sintzel and SERA), Atelier Neume, Clauss Kahl Merz, and Martina Kausch Architektinnen.

The building's design philosophy centers on spatial flexibility and sustainability. The courtyard side completely abandons the strict facade treatment, featuring narrow gallery walkways that lead from the open circulation zone to the apartments. The apartment layouts are deliberately compact, with the smallest module measuring only a few meters in width and featuring a centrally located bathroom separated from the entrance and sleeping areas by floor-to-ceiling doors. This bathroom can function either as a continuous space or as a separate wet room depending on needs. Two or three of these modules can be combined to create larger units suitable for singles, couples, shared living arrangements, or families.

All 27 apartments are characterized by their visible wooden load-bearing structure, which defines the building's interior character. The comprehensive re-use concept extends throughout the entire structure, incorporating materials from various sources. The laminated timber ceilings, for example, reuse wood from a temporary Formula E pavilion. Bricks from different origins, facade panels facing the courtyard, railing grids, garden slabs, and sanitary ceramics create a deliberately heterogeneous mix, with blue and red serving as recurring color accents that provide orientation throughout the building.

The ground floor houses a community room, two commercial units, and a bicycle garage, connected to the courtyard level by a generous staircase that serves both functional and social purposes. During outdoor movie nights or table tennis tournaments, this staircase transforms into seating, embodying the spirit of a neighborhood that takes community seriously and expresses it through confident architectural solutions. The project represents not just the completion of a development but a model for sustainable, community-oriented urban housing that successfully integrates environmental consciousness with social responsibility.