PRP Now! Travis Gerhardt // Herzog & de Meuron

PRP: Tell us about your PRP firm. Where are you working?

Griezi! I’m working at Herzog & de Meuron, a multinational architecture and design firm in Basel, Switzerland. I am currently working in Aeschenplatz, one of HdM’s offices in Basel.

PRP: Do you enjoy the city you’re working in? Favorite aspects?

Basel has been a wonderful city to work and live in! It’s a pristine city with a beautiful blend of historic and contemporary architecture. The city also has a vibrant art scene, with many art museums/galleries scattered throughout. The summertime is full of celebrations and events, so there is always something fun to do.

Basel borders France and Germany, so it is very easy to cross over by bike and grocery shop in either neighboring country (which is also typically much cheaper!). Plus the entirety of Switzerland is highly interconnected by train, so day trips around the country have become part of my weekend routine.

PRP: What is currently on your desk? What are you working on?

On my desk are scattered sketches of building details, a croissant, a cappuccino and reference materials from a recent visit to the Ricola headquarters in Laufen – an HdM-designed project that offered great insights into the firm’s work (which includes a small pile of assorted Ricola flavors that I purchased at their gift shop!)

Since starting I have been working on hotel and office towers in Dubai.. We are wrapping up DD, which has included a lot of work on the drawing set, 3d modelling, laying out spreads in the report package, and making a few design studies to test different spatial configurations.

PRP: Describe the firm culture? The office atmosphere?

H&dM is a large firm, with a few hundred employees throughout the Basel offices. As an internationally practicing studio, the firm is a melting pot of many different cultures and experiences that attracts talent from all around the world. Working here has been a great way to learn about different cultures, and it took me less than a week to meet a colleague from each continent.

HdM has a studio-like atmosphere that encourages collaboration throughout the entire design process. There are regular opportunities to connect with colleagues from the firm’s many project teams – such as the morning & afternoon coffee/snack breaks, which are a great way to meet new people and to discuss different projects. The intern/trainee group is very social, and there are always opportunities to make friends with colleagues at organized events.

PRP: What is the first thing you’ll tell your classmates upon your return to UT?

I’ll definitely mention my Wickelfisch, and that my commute home after work has been by floating down the Rhine! A huge plus about working at Aeschenplatz is that it is upstream from my apartment, so after work I change into my swimsuit, place all of my things in my Wickelfisch (A fish-shaped dry bag that was invented in Basel, and gifted to us on our first day at the office), and head down to the river to float home. It’s a really great way to end the day and to wash off the workday before heading home.

PRP: As you’re finishing up the week, what are your plans for this weekend?

This upcoming Friday is the Swiss National Holiday so we have the day off. After grilling some Cervelats (Switzerland's national sausage) and watching fireworks on the banks of the Rhine Thursday night, I'm spending my 3-day weekend on a trip to Cologne, Germany.