History
From a working-class meeting place to a Boutique & Design Hotel with Brasserie
The Volkshaus Basel, originally a castle bailiwick, can be traced back to the 14th century. The location has always been a place of dense and varied use – a piece of the city within the city. In 1845, a brewery with an adjoining restaurant was built on the site, followed by a concert hall and beer hall in 1874. After the facilities were taken over by the city of Basel in 1905, the site developed into a centre of political, social and cultural activities, which ultimately led to a lack of space and a competition in 1919. The winner, the architect Henri Baur, built the new Volkshaus Basel, which was inaugurated in 1925. He integrated the existing concert hall and added halls of various sizes, offices, conference rooms, a shop, a restaurant and staff accommodation.
Volkshaus Basel celebrates a century of history, culture and innovation
When the Volkshaus Basel opened in 1925, it was a symbol of progress and coming together. Conceived as a social centre for the working class, it served as a venue for political debates, artistic performances and social gatherings – it was a house for the people. Over the decades, the Volkshaus Basel constantly changed to meet the needs of the city and its inhabitants. In the 1970s, it narrowly escaped demolition and was then extensively renovated. Both structural and functional changes were made, but these altered significant parts of the original character.
A central social place
The defining turning point in the history of the Volkshaus Basel was the takeover in 2011 by property developers and catering entrepreneurs Leopold Weinberg and Adrian Hagenbach. Together with the prestigious architects Herzog & de Meuron, they pursued the goal of revitalising the building’s original identity as a lively meeting place. In 2020, the Volkshaus Basel was extended to include a boutique hotel with 45 rooms designed by Herzog & de Meuron. With the reopening of the hotel, the Volkshaus Basel regained its historical diversity of use and re-established itself as a vibrant meeting place: the heart of Basel.
On 6th September 2025, we will open our doors to celebrate our 100th anniversary with residents, guests, partners and other interested parties. On this occasion, the house and hotel rooms can be visited and culinary delights can be savoured. The Owners as well as General Manager Manuela Voser will also provide information about the history and planned future development of the historic building in the centre of Kleinbasel.
