Thomas Wüthrich becomes Professor and Head of the BA Interior Architecture and Scenography
Thomas Wüthrich becomes professor and head of the bachelor's programme in Interior Architecture and Scenography at the Institute Contemporary Design Practices (ICDP) at HGK Basel from 1 September 2026.
The HGK Basel is happy to welcome Thomas Wüthrich as professor and head of the Bachelor's degree programme in Interior Architecture and Scenography at the Institute Contemporary Design Practices (ICDP) from 1 September 2026.
The selection committee, chaired by Prof. Dr. Claudia Perren (Director HGK Basel), unanimously chose Thomas Wüthrich. The members of the selection committee were: Prof. Barbara Holzer (external expert, Holzer Kobler – Zurich/Berlin/Cologne/Nyon), Prof. Werner Baumhakl (Head of the ICDP), Prof. Dr. Dr. Aylin Yildrim Tschoepe (Head of Research, ICDP), Anastasia Bull (member of the Employee Participation Organisation MOM, HGK Basel), Sinan Brenne (student HGK Basel), Annette Schönholzer (member of the University Board FHNW) and Nadine Seiler (HR, HGK Basel).
Prof. Thomas Wüthrich studied Interior Architecture at HGK Basel, FHBB and design at Cooper Union New York (1997-2001) and completed an MAS in Environmental Management and Environmental Technologies at FHNW School of Life Sciences (2018-2022). Together with Yves Raschle, he founded INCH in 2005, a company he continues to co-manage today. For the first 10 years, INCH focused on an Indonesian-Swiss collaboration in the design, production and trade of furniture in cooperation with Indonesian technical schools. Later, INCH expanded its scope to include interior and exterior spaces, always linked to a growing interest in circular models. Under the title ‘Sustainable Design Processes’, they have published a guide together with Park Books (2025) that is explicitly aimed at teaching in universities and everyday design work.
Thomas Wüthrich speaks five languages and has extensive work experience in collaborative, interdisciplinary, and international teams. He has a strong network throughout Switzerland and internationally and is keen to further raise the profile of interior architecture and scenography while interacting with other degree programmes at the ICDP, the institutes at the HGK Basel, and beyond at the FHNW. His practical experience ranges from projects for Roche Pharma AG, Grenzach; MCH Exhibition Group / Art Basel; Museum Tinguely Basel; Museum of Design, Zurich; Natural History Museum Basel; Ruckstuhl Carpets, Langenthal; Museumsquartier Plateforme 10, Lausanne, to the overall design of the new PHLU and HSLU university campus in Horw.
Thomas Wüthrich has received several awards, including the Swiss Design Award (2006), nominations for the Swiss Design Prize (2003, 2007, 2013) and ‘Die Besten 2020’ for Circulateur, Lausanne. His work has been exhibited internationally, including at SFMOMA San Francisco, the Museum of Modern Art, Design Miami/Basel, the Museum of Design Zurich and the Instituto Svizzero di Milano. Thomas Wüthrich also has many years of teaching experience. His focus on sustainable design always incorporates ecological and social aspects. For example, together with students from the HSLU, he used materials from the ‘Bauteilbörse Basel’ to create a ‘Living Wall’ as permanent furniture for the Foyer Design-Film-Kunst in Emmenbrücke (2025).
In its current development, HGK Basel is increasingly focusing on contemporary, high-quality degree programmes that strengthen research, teaching and collaboration. Diversity, sustainability and current social transformations play a major role in this. With Prof. Thomas Wüthrich, HGK Basel has gained another committed professor who excels in this field.
We wish Thomas Wüthrich all the best as professor and head of the Bachelor's degree programme in Interior Architecture and Scenography at HGK Basel!
The date of his inaugural lecture will be announced later.
Prof. Thomas Wüthrich's contact details will be available on the website of the HGK Basel in September.