Follow-up: Interview “Bird Conservation in Urban Areas” (Part 1)
The topic of green roofs and biodiversity conservation in inner cities has gained increasing importance in recent years and is becoming a key component of sustainable urban planning. As an architectural practice, we regularly engage with this subject, for example through our work on the Stücki Park project on Hochbergstrasse. This provides good reason to take a closer look. In line with our credo “sharing experience”, we aim to gain deeper insights into why urban greening and bird conservation are so important and what role Basel plays in this context. We spoke with two experts on the subject. We begin with Dr. phil. nat. Jean-Pierre Biber from the Advisory Office for Bird Issues, Department for Nature and Landscape Conservation of the Canton of Basel-Stadt.
Anna Stärk
29. January 2026
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We all know that biodiversity is important in cities because it enhances the quality of our urban living environment. Could you explain in more detail why species conservation, and bird conservation in particular, is so important in urban areas? Birds contribute significantly to a city’s biological diversity and act as indicators of whether an urban ecosystem is healthy. Natural pest control, for example, functions effectively because birds feed on pests. In particular, building-nesting species should be supported. Outside cities, these birds usually breed on cliffs, such as swifts, alpine swifts and swallows. Buildings can serve as substitutes for rock faces. Other birds that nest in niches can also be supported, depending on the situation.
How does green roofing specifically contribute to the protection of bird species in urban environments? What needs to be done, and how? Birds require shrubs or trees for nesting, so green roofs do not directly provide nesting sites. Nevertheless, greened areas offer valuable food sources in the form of plant seeds and insects. Nesting sites are usually located in the lower sections of buildings or in shrubs and trees.
Cities are characterised by a high level of artificial light and noise, both of which disrupt the natural behaviour of birds. What other challenges does species conservation face in a densely populated city like Basel? There are several challenges, foremost among them the provision of breeding sites. Birds and bats, for example, depend on niches and cavities. Glass façades are also problematic, as they are difficult for birds to perceive, leading to collisions.
What can architectural practices do, beyond proactive awareness-raising, to bring species conservation more strongly into focus? In my view, there are two key aspects that architectural practices should consider from the very beginning of the planning process. First, protective measures for glazing should be incorporated to minimise collisions. According to studies conducted in the United States, albeit dating back to the 1980s, hundreds of millions of birds were already dying each year as a result of collisions with glass. Second, providing nesting opportunities for building-nesting species plays a crucial role, particularly for swifts and swallows, but also for other birds that breed in niches and cavities.
Are there measurable data or results that demonstrate that species and bird conservation efforts have been successful in recent years? Do you conduct counts or studies and carry out regular monitoring? The major issue is that investigations into the success of bird conservation measures are rarely carried out after buildings have been completed. There are good examples involving the provision of nesting sites for falcons, swifts, swallows and also bats, where success is relatively easy to assess. Targeted studies would certainly be valuable.
Providing water sources in gardens or practising insect-friendly gardening – what else can private homeowners do to promote biodiversity at home? In principle, the same measures already mentioned apply here as well, namely protective measures for glazing and the provision of nesting sites, which should be planned from the outset.
Flat roof or pitched roof – which is better? Pitched roofs are certainly better for the conservation of bird species. Eaves often provide natural niches for birds and allow nest boxes to be installed in sheltered positions. Tiled roofs also generally offer more niches for birds beneath the tiles. That said, flat roofs also have their advantages. They provide areas that, by attracting insects and creating quiet refuges, represent valuable habitats for birds, away from urban traffic noise.
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Anna Stärk
29. January 2026
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Architecture and science – two fields that go hand in hand in the Basel region. These aspects are skillfully intertwined on the MAIN CAMPUS of the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area in Allschwil. This life sciences and innovation ecosystem, developed over the past few years near the French border on behalf of Senn Resources AG, offers an attractive and highly interconnected home for companies and institutions ranging from startups to multinational corporations...
Auch wir bei Blaser Architekten befinden uns mitten in der digitalen Transformation aller Geschäftsabläufe und können von uns behaupten, dass wir bereits vieles umgesetzt haben. Die Digitalisierung ist aber kein Sprint, auch kein Marathon – viel mehr ein Weg, den wir nicht mehr verlassen werden. Laufend werden neue Tools entwickelt, KI wartet in immer kürzer zu werden scheinenden Intervallen mit neuen Möglichkeiten auf. Das bedeutet, dass wir die digitale Transformation nicht als Prozess verstehen, der nun bald abgeschlossen sein wird, sondern als selbstverständlich gewordener Teil unserer täglichen Aufgaben. Deswegen ist es uns wichtig, diesen Weg aufmerksam zu gehen, was heute möglich ist zu implementieren, aber auch neue Entwicklungen nicht zu verschlafen. Einer unserer Mitarbeitenden ist in diesem Thema besonders zuhause und legt sich dafür ins Zeug. Zamri Thüring ist Student des Master-Studiengangs in Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) an der FHNW und arbeitet bei Blaser Architekten in der Qualitätssicherung für Computer Aided Design (CAD, QS). In diesem Blogbeitrag teilt er seine Erfahrungen und Einsichten.
What actually is... amock-up?Sketches, drawings,floor plans, 3D models - the language used by architectural designers tocommunicate visually is not always easy to understand right away in reality -after all, visualizations often only offer a perspective view and plans, gridsand the like must also be able to be read. And even if digitalization has longsince found its way into the field of construction (planning) and architecture,the implementation of a project and the end result is still a highly analoguematter that involves sensory perception. So what helps to illustrate ideas andpossible projects in the best possible way and to give clients, but also thecontractors, tradespeople and suppliers involved, a comprehensive picture ofwhat the future could look like? Exactly, a mock-up, i.e. a modelrepresentation on a scale of 1:1. The term mock-up has its origins in French(maquette) and means something like preliminary model, sketch or draft.
Auf den ersten Blick weckt derBegriff «Corporate Architecture» oft die Vorstellung von uniformen,austauschbaren Gebäuden ohne erkennbaren Bezug zum jeweiligen Standort. Dochals Architekten und Generalplaner, die immer wieder in diesem Bereich tätigsind, wissen wir: Hinter Corporate Architecture stehen komplexe Aufgaben, derenUmsetzung Präzision, Adaption, Kommunikation, logistische Fähigkeiten undweitere anspruchsvolle Kompetenzen erfordert – genau diese Herausforderungenmachen solche Projekte für uns besonders spannend.
A large part of our work today is digital and virtual—we design with CAD, enhance plans with BIM data, and visualize projects in 3D. Still, sometimes the tried and true methods prove their worth. Take model making, for example, which continues to play a significant role in architecture. Surprisingly, this might seem counterintuitive given the indispensable tools like 3D renderings and simulations, making physical model making appear almost outdated. However, as in life, the magic often lies in the mix: combining digital and analog methods unlocks unique potential. Why Analog When Everything Is Digital?
Our new blog format REVISITED takes a retrospective look at completed projects, offering an assessment of architecture as it is lived over time. We begin with a single-family home in Witterswil, completed in 2012. Situated at the edge of the building zone, the one-storey residence was realised as a densification of an existing plot and includes, in addition to the customary living areas, a slightly recessed studio space. The house was originally occupied by a couple to whom we have returned for a visit 13 years after their move-in.
The Hirsacker Foundation is a private foundation based in Liesberg, Canton of Basel-Landschaft. By public mandate, it offers places in "Supported Living" as well as in "Accompanied Day Structuring" specifically for people on the autism spectrum. Founded in 1987, more than 60 employees are currently dedicated to enabling clients to lead self-determined and fulfilling lives. Tailored to individual needs, the services include nature-oriented, manual, and creative activities that take place in a safe and supportive environment, focusing on joy of life, development opportunities, and social inclusion. Maintenance work that has become necessary is now being undertaken by Blaser Architects. This encompasses several properties of the Hirsacker Foundation, particularly the "Riederwald" residential building and the "Hirsacker" area. A first sub-project has already been completed, with other works still pending.
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