HHF Architects

Basel, Switzerland
HHF architects is a Basel-based practice founded in 2003 by Tilo Herlach, Simon Hartmann, and Simon Frommenwiler. Operating at the intersection of architecture, urbanism, and cultural production, the office develops projects that respond to specific contexts while engaging broader spatial, social, and ecological questions. HHF’s award-winning work spans geographies and typologies, reflecting a belief that architecture is not a product of style but of process. Current projects include Starlette, a mixed-use ensemble in Strasbourg; Poissy Galore, an observatory and museum in a landscape park near Paris; and Landskronhof, a residential courtyard densification in Basel. HHF contributes to urban transformation discourse in Switzerland through competitions and studies. With a diverse international team, dialogue is central to the practice. Rather than offering final answers, HHF creates adaptable frameworks, using architecture as a medium for transformation. They teach and research architecture at institutions such as the Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Faculty of Architecture at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
2025 Biennial Project
Project Overview
Landskronhof
Landskronhof transforms a neglected lot bounded by party walls and parking lots into fifteen apartments layered with gardens and terraces in central Basel. Carefully staggered volumes create generous outdoor spaces for each unit and a sequence of private and shared patios. New public passages connect the site to a wider network of green spaces, fostering a sense of community and interaction between residents.
Venue
View moreChicago Cultural Center
Address
78 E. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
Neighborhood
The Loop
Description
Completed in 1897 as Chicago’s first central library, the building was established as the Chicago Cultural Center, the nation’s first and most comprehensive free municipal cultural venue, in 1991. One of the most visited attractions in Chicago, the stunning landmark building is home to two magnificent stained-glass domes, as well as free art exhibitions, performances, tours, lectures, family activities, music, and more – presented by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and many others.
