GENEVA/MIES (FIBA Headquarters) – FIBA today revealed the project that will in future house the Federation’s world headquarters, during a press conference in Mies, Switzerland.

The project, which was approved unanimously by the Central Board during their meeting on 12th-13th December 2009, is the result of an architectural competition launched by FIBA with the aim of providing the organisation with a building to match its needs and ambitions for the future.

The competition, which began in November 2008 and initially brought together ten groups of architects, ended on 9th September 2009 after three toughly contested rounds, with the panel of experts choosing to recommend the ‘House of Basketball’ project put forward by the Luscher Group.

Markus Studer, COO of FIBA, explained during the press conference: “Two criteria were considered especially important to us.

Firstly the winning project had to fit the surrounding landscape and, secondly, it had to convey the identity and core values of the sport of basketball.”

Markus Studer, who admitted to having fallen in love with the Luscher project, said that of all those submitted, this one best expressed these values.

He also noted that the systematic use of glass, not only allowed for an exceptional view, but also stood for the important value of transparency in sport.

Blending into the surrounding landscape and designed to give the best possible view of Lake Geneva’s surrounding beauties, the building was inspired by the shape of the hands that grasp the basketball in FIBA’s logo, while the metallic structure that supports the building is strongly reminiscent of the net of a basketball hoop.

Rodolphe Luscher, the architect heading the project, explained the symbolism of this ‘net’: “As you enter the building and walk up the stairs, you suddenly realise that you are inside the net.

You have fallen into the hoop without knowing it.

This technical feature of the ‘net’, which is also a central structural element, was designed with the dream of basketball in mind.”

Patrice Engelberts, mayor of Mies, and Ariane Cavin, who holds the municipal office for development and construction and who was among the panel of experts representing the Mies Council, gave their full support to the project and congratulated FIBA for their commitment to a building that matches Switzerland’s highest standards in terms of ecology.

With submission for planning permission scheduled for April 2010 and digging expected to begin in October 2010, the building should be inaugurated and fully operational during the winter of 2012-2013.

FIBA