A small house with a big story
Long before the first coffee crossed our counter, the Pförtnerhaus had already lived many lives: guardian of a villa garden, coachman's house, gatehouse of a busy commercial yard. Over 140 years of history, lovingly carried on.
A garden at the city gates
It all began with a garden. In the 19th century, after Basel's city walls came down, generous estates with sprawling grounds sprang up along the St. Alban-Anlage. The plot on Hardstrasse belonged to a grand villa that still stands just north of the site today. Where croffles are baked now, people once strolled through a private villa garden in the Gellert.
From coachman's house to gatehouse
In the early 20th century, our house served as a coachman's house. Later it became the gateway to the commercial buildings that gradually replaced the villa garden: whoever entered the yard passed the Pförtnerhaus, the «gatekeeper's house». Hence the name. Today it is the last remaining relic of that era, a listed building that, together with the old trees at the entrance, still marks the address to the street. Small, but with presence.
The poster years
From the 1930s onwards, the site was used commercially, starting with Wassermann AG and most recently by the Allgemeine Plakatgesellschaft (APG), Switzerland's poster advertising company, which had its offices at Hardstrasse 43. For decades, posters came and went while the Pförtnerhaus kept watch. That era still echoes today: the finely corrugated aluminium façades of the new residential buildings are a deliberate nod to the poster panels of the past.
A new chapter: Living Frames
In 2016, the ECOREAL Swiss real estate investment foundation acquired the site and commissioned Basel architects Miller & Maranta to develop it. Their approach: not to erase the character of the old commercial yard, but to add a new layer of time. The historic shed halls became live-work studios, three new residential buildings were added, 67 apartments and studios in total. The Pförtnerhaus itself was carefully restored between 2022 and 2023 under heritage protection. In 2022, Living Frames featured in Open House Basel and was named one of the year's top 10 by Architektur Basel.
Lovingly renovated, character intact
When we took over the house, one thing was clear: we'd renovate it, but we wouldn't iron it flat. The old beams, the spiral staircase, the high ceilings in the Gallery Room, all of it stays visible. The result is a place where over 140 years of history and a croffle iron get along surprisingly well. Homely meets innovative, that's not a coincidence, that's the concept.
And today? La vie en rose.
In mid-July 2023, Diana and Michel brought the Pförtnerhaus back to life. The idea came about almost by accident: the communications agency Mind Studios, founded by Michel Gysin and run by him together with Daniela Kleck to this day, was looking for new office space. They fell for the Pförtnerhaus straight away, but it was too big for offices alone. So the extra space became home to the Café Bar Pförtnerhaus. A place to celebrate the joy of good food and easy-going time together.
«The house that guarded the gate for more than 140 years is now open to everyone.»
Our history at a glance
The plot is the garden of a grand villa in the young Gellert quarter.
The Pförtnerhaus is built.
The house serves as a coachman's house and becomes the gateway to the emerging commercial yard.
Commercial use of the site, first by Wassermann AG, most recently as the seat of the Allgemeine Plakatgesellschaft (APG).
ECOREAL acquires the site; Miller & Maranta develop the Living Frames project.
Restoration of the listed Pförtnerhaus, completion of Living Frames.
Diana and Michel open the Café-Bar Pförtnerhaus. The rest is pure indulgence.
Questions about our history
How old is the Pförtnerhaus in Basel?
The Pförtnerhaus at Hardstrasse 43 was built around 1880, making it over 140 years old. In the early 20th century it served as a coachman's house and later as the gateway to the commercial buildings on the site. Today it is the only surviving relic of that era.
Why is it called Pförtnerhaus?
«Pförtnerhaus» means gatekeeper's house. The building marked the entrance to the former commercial yard on Hardstrasse: anyone entering the site passed this little house, like a porter's lodge. The name stuck, though nowadays nobody checks passes and everyone is welcome.
Is the Pförtnerhaus a listed building?
Yes, the Pförtnerhaus is a listed heritage building. It was carefully restored between 2022 and 2023 as part of the Living Frames development and has housed the Café-Bar Pförtnerhaus and the digital agency Mind Studios since July 2023.
What is Living Frames?
Living Frames is the residential development on the former commercial site around the Pförtnerhaus, designed by Basel architects Miller & Maranta for ECOREAL. It comprises 67 apartments and live-work studios and was completed in 2022/2023.
When did the Café-Bar Pförtnerhaus open?
The Café-Bar Pförtnerhaus opened in mid-July 2023, run by hosts Diana and Michel. Since then it has been café, apéro bar, gallery and neighbourhood meeting point in the Gellert, all in one.
Come by and see for yourself
The house tells its story best over a coffee or a good glass of wine. Meet the people behind it today on our team page.