HENN designs a building that will be constructed to create a spatial unity between the interior and exterior through a translucent, semi-transparent glass envelope that allows light to pass through from one side to the other. The glass used for the façade will be recycled material sourced from the area.
The building's abstract, triangular design allows it to rise to the same height as the other buildings without detracting from them. It creates a harmonious dialogue with the existing building, which was remodeled following the necessary principles of sustainability and restoration.
The second building to be constructed will house the dining room, workshops, rehearsal rooms, and offices for the theater's administration.
Site plan, original scale 1:500 © HENN.
Description of project by HENN
Built in the 19th century, the listed Staatstheater building is situated in the historic town center of Augsburg. Besides the comprehensive repair and refurbishment of the outdated Grosses Haus (Large House), which is urgently needed, two new buildings will be constructed on the site by 2030: the Kleines Haus (Small House), which will include a stage for novel approaches to the performing arts, and a service building. HENN’s design for the refurbishment and new builds will create a vibrant space for art and culture that merges tradition and modernity while transferring the institution’s architectural and cultural heritage into the future.
Designed by Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer, the Augsburg Staatstheater opened in 1878. Due to wartime destruction, the outer walls in particular required reconstruction in the 1950s. Today, the preserved historic building fabric forms part of the city’s protected architectural heritage. This is why the Grosses Haus is being repaired and refurbished with utmost care in close coordination with conservation authorities, and its technical infrastructure, including the stage equipment, will be renewed and upgraded, which is an essential prerequisite for state-of-the-art theater operations.
The Grosses Haus with its monumental, NeoRenaissance style façade will be flanked by a new building featuring an abstract design. Its triangular floor plan and clean, soaring form creates a deliberate contrast to the main building while also complementing it without overshadowing its presence within the urban fabric.
While the new design builds upon the approach originally pursued by the Achatz architectural firm, it also develops new ideas for how the Kleines Haus will be perceived from externally as well as from inside. The aim is to construct a future-proof cultural building that opens toward the city like a shop window to become a field of experimentation for creative artists, the urban community, and passersby alike.
On the outside, a semi-transparent glass façade wraps around the building like a theater curtain above its stone base. The façade’s curvilinear shapes are borrowed from the façade of the Grosses Haus and the theater hall’s ceiling to establish a link between the two distinctly different buildings. The façade consists of regionally sourced recycled glass whose transparency allows passersby to get a glimpse of the vibrant activity inside. At night, the Kleines Haus transforms into a cultural stage that glows from within.
The building’s interiors are designed to create a sense of spaciousness and openness. The entrance to the Kleines Haus is located in a connecting section between the two buildings. Passing through the entrance lobby featuring a generously designed café and bar as well as cloakrooms, visitors access the theater hall on the upper floors via a staircase while enjoying views across all levels.
A service building will be constructed at the rear end of the site to accommodate functions such as a canteen, workshops, rehearsal stages, and offices for theater administration.
The redevelopment of the Augsburg Staatstheater follows the principles of social and environmental sustainability to make sure that this building steeped in tradition retains its landmark character in the context of the Augsburg cityscape. This approach will ensure state-of-the-art theater operations for decades to come while inviting the urban community to get actively involved in cultural life.
