Market hall, Architectural structure in Basel, Switzerland.
Markthalle Basel is a 1929 reinforced-concrete market hall topped by an octagonal shell dome 27 metres high and 60 metres wide, with walls only eight centimetres thick. The dome's cycloid form was developed from the Leipzig Grossmarkthalle. The hall now holds market stalls, food trucks and shops under the protected structure.
Built in 1929 as Basel's Grossmarkthalle, the hall was designed by engineer Adolf Goenner, who died before completion, and architect Hans Ryhiner, who led the finishing work; Züblin AG executed it on plans by Hubert Rüsch of Dyckerhoff & Widmann. On opening it was the world's third-largest reinforced-concrete dome. It served as a wholesale market until 2004, when changed distribution routes closed it; after a vacant period it was converted in 2009–2011 and is now a listed building.
Since October 2013 the hall has been run by a team around Basel architect Barbara Buser, with the Markthallen AG Basel coordinating stalls, food trucks and bars leased to partners. The name Grossmarkthalle recalls its role as the city's wholesale market until 2004. Since May 2019 the hall has also curated the "Küchenkarawane", sending selected food trucks to squares across Basel.
The hall sits in central Basel, a short walk from the SBB station and on several tram lines. The Markthallen AG Basel rents the dome and runs the market office, permits for stallholders, room rentals and the dishwashing line. Food trucks, stalls and bars are run by subtenants, so opening days vary by stand. Since May 2019 the hall also curates the "Küchenkarawane", sending selected food trucks to changing squares across the city.
The shell dome, 60 metres wide and only eight centimetres thick, was the third-largest reinforced-concrete dome in the world when the hall opened in 1929. Its cycloid form refines the dome of Leipzig's Grossmarkthalle. Engineer Adolf Goenner died in 1929 before completion; architect Hans Ryhiner led the finishing work, and Hubert Rüsch of Dyckerhoff & Widmann did the calculations.
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