zaha hadid’s proposed design for the beethoven festspielhaus in bonn

proposed designs by british architect zaha hadid have been revealed for the ‘beethoven festspielhaus’ in bonn, a concert hall to be built in honor of the renowned composer. hadid’s design is one of seven competition entries which failed to make the final cut of three projects, which will subsequently undergo further development and consideration before a winner is announced in 2015.

a grand staircase leads concertgoers to the central auditorium
all images courtesy of beethoven festspielhaus

boasting the sinuous forms so often associated with hadid’s work, the structure is lent a sense of translucence through the use of glazed paneling, which allows daylight to flood internal space. opening like a mouth, the building welcomes guests from the riverbank, leading concertgoers to the central auditorium via a grand staircase. creating a constant dialogue between indoor and outdoor space, the curvilinear shell opens and closes, accentuating the continuity between river and city.

the main auditorium is designed with the same sense of fluidity as the exterior design

creases within the form of the concert hall offer a variety of viewing platforms, with outdoor event space provided by the grand staircases leading from the rhine to the elevated building mass. access to the main foyer is provided on two levels, with upper storey entry still possible during high water levels. the main auditorium is designed with the same sense of fluidity as the exterior design, with curvilinear balcony fronts and flowing wall reliefs.

for more information on the ‘beethoven festspielhaus’, see here.

the riverside site in bonn, germany