A structured method for reading the interstitial spaces between the Roche and Novartis campuses and the fabric of Basel's urban life — following Gehl's eye-level approach.
"A good city is like a good party — people stay longer than really necessary because they are enjoying themselves."
— Jan Gehl
The campuses of Roche and Novartis are not merely work places or architectural landmarks — they become urban actors. Each campus occupies a substantial share of Basel's built fabric, enclosed by fences, gates, security checkpoints, and the quiet signals of institutional territory. But what happens at the boundary between these campuses and the surrounding city?
This exercise asks you to look carefully at those thresholds: the fringe spaces where urban forms of Big Pharma sites meet everyday street life. Is there dialogue, or separation? Porosity, or fortification? The question is empirical, and answering it requires systematic observation.
This exercise is largely inspired by Jan Gehl's methodology to assess utilization and quality of public spaces, building on the premise the latter are critical for sustainable and inclusive city-life. This approach rests on a deceptively simple premise: cities are experienced at eye level. Before we can design or critique urban form, we must learn to read it as its users do — at walking pace, from the street, engaging all the senses.
To guide observations of uses in public spaces, Gehl distinguishes between necessary activities (errands, commuting), optional activities (sitting, strolling), and social activities (conversation, play). The presence of optional and social activities is a reliable indicator of environmental quality: people choose to linger only when a space invites it.
The Public Space / Public Life (PSPL) survey is Gehl's core fieldwork tool. It maps flows, counts users, categorises activities, and records spatial qualities over time. This exercise adapts that framework for a specific analytical question: how do pharmaceutical campus edges mediate (or block) urban life?
Map the selected fringe: materiality of ground and façade, physical barriers, transitions, and the spatial logic of the boundary.
Systematically measure specific, observable behaviors (predetermined types of activity) in real-time, focusing on frequency rather than interpretation.
A structured questionnaire capturing frequency, purpose, and profile of users who consent to a brief conversation. Minimum 12 per fringe.
These three pillars are designed to be complementary, not redundant. Spatial description gives you the container; timed observation gives you the quantitative flow; the survey gives you the individual voice. Together they build toward a multi-layered portrait of the fringe that can support both analytical writing and spatial/visual communication in the final exhibition.
One of the world's largest pharmaceutical headquarters, Roche's Basel campus occupies a substantial block along the Rhine. Its border conditions range from active streetfronts to fortified service edges.
Two fringe areas selected for observation based on their contrasting spatial characteristics.
The Novartis campus in St. Johann is a deliberate urban planning project — a "campus city" designed by invited architects. Its relationship to the surrounding neighbourhood raises sharp questions about enclosure and publicness.
Another selection of two fringe areas based on their contrasting spatial characteristics.
A fringe area is not simply a boundary line. It is a spatial zone of transition — typically 20–80 metres wide — where the rules, materials, and rhythms of the campus begin to dissolve into those of the surrounding city. When analyzing a fringe, look for areas that are actively used or potentially usable, not just visually interesting. Also, explore contrasts: a fringe that appears highly permeable alongside one that appears closed or indeterminate.
Document how the ground is surfaced across the fringe zone.
Record the primary materials and visual character of the boundary edge.
Mark clearly where movement is blocked, filtered, or redirected.
Produce a plan at a 1:200 scale. Indicate North, scale bar, and fringe zone boundary. Use a simple but consistent legend across all four fringe maps so that findings can be compared. Annotate with photographs keyed to the plan. Mark the predetermined observation spots (red dots on the map above).
Structured observation is a specific method to systematically collect data according to a set of predefined rules and procedures. It is at the core of Gehl's PSPL approach, and is introduced in this exercise as a means to analyze everyday life in the selected fringe spaces.
In practice, one student is assigned to a single spot, where they will observe and count users, classifying their activity based on a predetermined categorization scheme (see details below). Maintain consistent spot positioning — stand or sit at the same point each time. Do not move around during the 15-minute window. The goal is temporal comparison at a fixed vantage point.
Tip: 09:00 and 17:00 may capture commuting flows in or out of the campus. 12:00 may surface lunch-hour patterns. 15:00 often reflects a quieter moment — useful as a baseline.
Tally count — how many people pass through or occupy the spot during the 15-minute window. Record as a running total. Try not to count a same person twice within a same 15-minute window.
Note: this is an approximate (perceived) category, not confirmed. Record what is visible by you.
Note: this is an approximate (perceived) category, not confirmed. Record what is visible by you.
All survey participants must be 18 years or older. Introduce yourself briefly: your name, that you are students from the University of Basel studying the relationship between the campus and the neighbourhood, and that the survey takes approximately 3-5 minutes. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. Carry your informed consent form and offer it to participants who wish to read it. Record responses yourself; do not hand the questionnaire to the participant.
Target a minimum of 12 completed surveys per fringe area. Distribute surveys across the three observation points (each fringe has three). If a person declines, it does not count as a participation. Use a printed sheet or a simple digital form — whichever allows faster recording.
Questions are ordered: frequency → usage → profile. Read each question aloud; record the answer. The survey should not exceed 3–5 minutes per participant.
Four fringe area maps (one per selected site) with consistent scale, legend, land cover, barriers, and observation spots marked. Keyed photographs.
Compiled tally sheets per spot per time window, totalling 32 observation sessions across both campuses. Summary tables comparing flow volumes, activity types, and temporal variation.
Minimum 48 completed surveys (12 per fringe area). Visual summaries (simple charts or annotated bar graphs) of frequency, usage, and profile distributions.
Your findings from this exercise will feed directly into the final exhibition at the Atrium of the Department of Construction and Transport, Münsterplatz 11. Think about how these three data types can be presented spatially: a plan with overlaid flow data, a comparative diagram of Roche vs. Novartis fringes, or a visual portrait of who uses these spaces and why. The quantitative outputs should not be reduced to tables alone — consider how they can be made visual and communicative for a non-specialist audience.
| Role | Task | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mapper (1–2 students in each team) | Spatial description of fringe area; plan production; photography | Can be done before timed observation windows; requires min. 1 site visit with measuring tape or pacing |
| Observer / Counter (1 student per spot) | Timed count and activity classification at each spot | Remain stationary; do not interact with passers-by |
| Surveyor (1–2 students) | Approach users, administer questionnaire, record responses | Do not conduct surveys during timed observation windows — right before or after is preferable to avoid bias |
| All students | Site debrief notes — qualitative impressions, anomalies, surprises | Essential complement to quantitative data; record immediately after each session |
Printed recording sheets for structured observations · Printed survey questionnaires (n=20 for each team) · Informed consent form (n=20 for each team) · Clipboard · Measuring tape or wheel · Camera or smartphone · Watch or phone with stopwatch.