HISTORY OF THE BUILDING

HISTORY UNTIL 1761

The current Reichensteiner Hof was built on several former properties located between Rheinsprung and Martinsgasse.

Two of these properties, for example, belonged to the noble Reich von Reichenstein family, a Basel episcopal ministry established since the 13th century.

In 1695, Hans Franz Sarasin (1649–1719), the founder of the Sarasin silk ribbon factory, bought the first property on Rheinsprung. Over the years, the family went on to acquire additional plots of land.

In 1754, the management of the silk ribbon factory was taken over by Lukas Sarasin (1730–1802), assisted by his younger brother Jakob (1742–1802), who was still a minor at the time.

Thanks to the considerable profits generated by this successful industry, Lukas began consolidating the family wealth. In 1757, he purchased the last of the three small houses on Rheinsprung (“Zum Weidenbaum”), in 1759 the large Reichensteiner Hof, and shortly thereafter, the neighboring Wendelstörfer Hof.

The Wendelstörfer Hof had already been one of the largest estates in the northern Münsterhügel district since the 13th century. Noble Basel families had resided there, and since 1589, it had belonged to the noble Peter Jacob von Wendelstorff.

HISTORY OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION (1761 – circa 1775)

EVOLUTION

In the ‘Construction Book,’ Lukas Sarasin meticulously recorded all the expenses related to the construction of the two houses. This resulted in a detailed account of the construction site, as well as numerous architectural plans.

The architect Samuel Werenfels began his work in the fall of 1761.

In December 1762, the old buildings were demolished. The laying of the first stone for the new building took place on March 21, 1763.

The materials and decorative items came from all over Europe:

Wallpapers from Nancy,
Silk fabrics from Amsterdam and Neuchâtel,
Armchairs, sofas, and mirrors from Besançon,
Marble fireplaces from Vevey,
Vases from actual castles, such as those from Lunéville in Lorraine.

Several artists and specialized workshops were involved: sculptors, stucco workers, and painters. For example, painted overdoors came from Darmstadt, Constance, Frankfurt, and Besançon.

Stove makers and stove manufacturers also participated in the project. Eight stoves were delivered from Bern, seven of which were personally designed by Werenfels.

Werenfels designed a total of 16 stove sketches, at least three of which were intended to be cast iron.

In total, 57 stoves were present in the two houses, most of which came from Hausach in the Kinzig Valley (Black Forest).

Once the work was completed, Lukas Sarasin made the Reichensteinerhof a welcoming home. Several travel accounts report that societies gathered there to attend concerts in the music room or admire the physical and optical attractions that this science enthusiast had collected.

Jakob Sarasin, residing in the Wendelstörferhof, maintained friendships with poets and famous figures, including Johann Caspar Lavater, Gottlieb Konrad Pfeffel, Heinrich Pestalozzi, and Count Cagliostro.

Both brothers Sarasin passed away in 1802. The Reichensteinerhof was passed on to Peter Vischer-Sarasin.

During the passage of the Allied army in 1813/14, Emperor Francis I of Austria resided in the building, where he dined with Tsar Alexander of Russia and King Frederick William III of Prussia.

In 1811, the Wendelstörferhof was acquired by the silk ribbon manufacturer Johann Jakob Bachofen-Burckhardt. He is probably responsible for the uniform color of the facade, which led to the building being called the ‘White House.’

In 1920, the Federal Telecommunications Administration purchased the Wendelstörferhof and adapted the premises to its professional needs.

In 1942, the Municipality of Basel-City acquired the Reichensteinerhof and installed the offices of the Department of Justice and the Guardianship Authority.

After the purchase of the neighboring Wendelstörferhof in 1968, the two houses were reunited and underwent a complete restoration between 1978 and 1982.”

Credit:

Mme Sarah Hummel-Smit

Architect specializing in historical monuments and heritage conservation