|
Theater and Congress Hall, Weimar
Weimar, Germany
GMP Architekten
A transparent volume melds with the
surrounding inner city
© PUNCTUM/H.-Chr. Schink
|
For more photos click on 'photos
& drawings' above.
To see the people and products
behind this project click on 'people & products.'
|
The deteriorating historic performance
hall in Weimar was torn down because it was unable to serve
the city's modern needs. A new facility offered this modest-sized
city in East Germany and its architect an opportunity to respond
to and define the relationship of this important cultural
facility to the surrounding city context. The new design repeats
the volume of the existing building with minor differences.
The new Weimarhalle is transparent and
open on all sides allowing for views into the interior, with
the hall structure appearing as an independent free-standing
volume. The generous foyer created around this element intensifies
the relationship of interior to exterior through glass facades
especially towards the adjacent park—the main inner-city
park—for cultural use. This openness especially applies
to the restaurant, which is located in the west wing.
The Grand Hall can be opened up or closed
with mechanical sliding walls on the ground and upper levels.
This creates, on the one hand, a house inside the building,
and on the other, a naturally illuminated event hall, which
is spatially, functionally, and atmospherically adjustable
to various uses.
On the park side, the southern courtyard
is complemented by a lecture building, which can be used separately.
Both forecourts are connected to the park via serpentine-shaped
ramps.
Formal name
of building:
Theater and Congress Hall, Weimar
Location:
Weimar, Germany
Gross square
footage:
180,900 sf
Total construction
cost:
$51 million
Owner:
Town of Weimar
Architect's
firm:
gmp – Architekten von Gerkan, Marg und Partner
Elbchaussee 139
22763 Hamburg, Germany
fon: ++49-40-88 151 0
fax: ++49-40-88 151 177
e-mail: Hamburg-E@gmp-architekten.de
www.gmp-architekten.de
|
Video
