Barbara Buser likes the projects that are not possible. Raised in Basel in her great grandfather’s 150 year old house, which she twice saved from demolition, she grew up sailing, skating and paddling, and at 14 built her own fibreglass canoe. Her father, an engineer, taught her to ask where the money comes from and how it pays back. At ETH Zurich she studied architecture, sociology and energy, and took a dynamite course for fun. At 23 she spent her practical year living in a caravan on a Bernese farm, drafting at night on the steering wheel while classmates helped her build a three generation home for a family of seven. She has never worked in anyone else’s architecture office. Ten years in Sudan and Tanzania followed: 64 local builders digging wells that outlasted the drilled ones, then a maintenance unit for the University of Dar es Salaam. Along the way she picked up Swahili and Zande, and came to doubt aid that runs on donated money. An MBA sealed it. Every project would have to pay its own way. In 1998 she cofounded baubüro in situ with Eric Honegger. They take on buildings nobody wants, raise the money, create a company to run each one, then hand it over. Partners put in 1,000 francs and take back exactly 1,000. A 50,000 franc loan from her mother has rolled from project to project and mobilized millions. When the owners of Basel’s empty Markthalle asked her to be a mere resource person, she said no; it now serves 2,000 meals a day. Material hunters salvage what others demolish, and at Lagerplatz in Winterthur, a 12 year transformation of 20 buildings and 200 tenants, K.118 won Global Holcim Awards Gold. Today about 100 people work at in situ and can become owners through a cooperative. She holds the Basel Culture Prize and the 2026 Jane Drew Prize, sails three boats and collects watches. As Basel’s first ferry woman, she still steers one of its historic Rhine ferries, convinced that we must use what we have and take care of each other. baubüro in situ Upcoming Episode: RHAD Sponsors: Caplan's Appliances The Doors Marbella Canada To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@issuedforconstruction.ca Issued For Construction