A splash of color in everyday prison life
Everyday life in prison is gray. A little color can't hurt. Basel sets colorful accents in the walking yards.
The promenade courtyards 1, 3 and 5 after the redesign. Photos: Martin Friedli, Basel
The seven walking courtyards in the Basel-Stadt remand prison - originally in monotonous concrete gray - have been upgraded in terms of color. Students at the Basel School of Design drew up designs for the project. From the 17 proposals received, a jury consisting of representatives of the Department of Justice and Security, the Department of Construction and Transport, the architect in charge of the project and the Basel School of Design evaluated the designs and selected seven works. They were implemented this spring as part of an ongoing renovation project (see illustrations).
Commission for the Prevention of Torture intevened
The redesign was suggested by the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture. After its inspection of the remand prison in 2011, it recommended that the sober and bare-looking concrete walls of the walkways be given a more friendly color scheme.
The Basel-Stadt remand prison has 148 places, 32 of which are in the women's section and 13 in the juvenile section. 15 of these places (men's section) are available for the execution of sentences.
Source: Basel-Stadt Department of Justice and Security
