How would you translate "Reiterbau"? The context:
"Obwohl nachträglich in das aus einem 1996 durchführten Studienauftrag
hervorgegangene Projekt kommerzielle Nutzungen eingefügt werden
mussten, blieb die wesentlicher Qualität des Entwurfs erhalten: die
Figur des schmalen Reiterbauwerks, die weniger auf einem formalen
Muster beruht, als auf einem raumwirksamen Prinzip."
It is about the SBB-Bahnhof in Basel

Dear leander1,

The term "Reiterbau", or "Reiterbauwerk", is rather non-standard. I
assume that the author who wrote the description of the Basel SBB
railroad station improvised a bit here to find a striking
one-word-expression to characterize the most noticeable feature of
that structure.

Please let me explain. "Reiter" means "horseman" in German. When used
in an architectural context, "Reiter" as part of a term is used to
make clear that an element of a building is placed on top of another -
like a horseman on a horse. For example, the small extra belfrys that
can be found on the nave roofs of many churches are called
"Dachreiter" = "roof horseman".

In railroad architecture, signal-boxes that are built over the tracks
like a bridge are called "Reiterstellwerk" = "horseman signal-box".
Please click here to see an example of a small Reiterstellwerk:
http://home.t-online.de/home/05820678-0001/0011.jpg
(Source: KD´s Eisenbahnseiten, by Klaus-Dieter Tröger)

You should now get the general idea: A building that crosses railroad
tracks similarly to a bridge is characterized by comparing it to the
way a horseman sits on his horse.

I have found a website with a description and pictures of the newly
erected buildings of Basel SBB railroad station (the station that
belongs to the Swiss railways, not to be confused with Basel Badischer
Bahnhof, which is German exterritory). I found out that between 2001
and 2003, a new structure had been erected. In addition to the old
station building north of the tracks and platforms, a new one had been
built on the southern side, the so-called "Kopfbau Süd" (= "Head
Building South"). And between those two station buildings, a
bridge-like great crossover, the so-called "Passerelle", had been
built which provides access to all platforms and also contains shops
and restaurants. That is the part of the complex your text refers to
as "Reiterbauwerk" - "horseman building".

Of course, the literal translation of this term is inadequate.
Therefore, I would use an unambiguous paraphrase. I propose a plain
and simple "bridge-like crossover building spanning the tracks and
platforms". It is not a very elegant expression, I admit. But at
least, it makes absolutely clear what the character of the
construction is.

So the brief paragraph you cited would best translate as follows:
"Though commerical use had to be added to the project that was the
result of a 1996 study assignmemt, the basic qualities of the design
were preserved: The shape of the slim bridge-like crossover building
spanning the tracks and platforms, based less upon a formal pattern
than rather on a space-forming principle."

You might also want to have a look at the website describing the new
complex of the Basel SBB station:
http://www.passerelle-basel.ch/html/frames/frameset_plaene.html


Search terms used:
basel sbb bahnhof neubau
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=basel+sbb+bahnhof+neubau&meta=

I hope this answers your question!
Best regards,
Scriptor

Dear Scriptor,
You Google people never fail to amaze me! It's a great answer, more
than
I hoped for or requested. $5 is a ridiuclously small tip, but at least
it shows my appreciation. Thank you very much!
Leander1