Stiftung Brasilea, Art museum in Rhine Harbor district, Basel, Switzerland

Stiftung Brasilea occupies a four-story workshop building for Rhine shipping, erected in 1964 on the green strip of the Bermen embankment parallel to the Rhine. Its base is reinforced concrete; above, translucent green fiberglass light panels clad the facade, which opens only toward the water through horizontal window bands. A cantilevered crane structure remains as a landmark. The building was converted into the foundation's home in 2004/2005.

Walter Wüthrich founded the foundation after moving from Basel Harbor to Rio de Janeiro in 1939, where he connected with artist Franz Josef Widmar in the 1950s. This relationship became the foundation for the institution's collection and artistic direction.

The name Brasilea points to the foundation's aim of cultural exchange between Switzerland and Brazil, and it works with the Goethe-Institut and the Brazilian embassy in Switzerland. Brazilians living in Switzerland are among its partners, and the programme mixes art with concerts, films, lectures and readings. The permanent Widmar collection, with personal objects, is shown separately on the first floor.

The building sits on the Grünstreifen of the Bermenböschung parallel to the Rhine at Westquai 39, in the Rhine harbour next to the French and German borders. The horizontal window bands face the water only, so the exhibition floors open toward the river side. From Basel SBB take tram 8 to Kleinhüningen and walk a short way to the harbour.

The Widmar collection is shown separately on the first floor, while the basement and mezzanine host temporary exhibitions and events. The foundation's own collection is owned by the charity "Kinder In Brasilien". The building's wide projecting crane structure, kept from the harbour days, serves as its landmark.