chipperfield among shortlist of three for beethoven concert hall

chipperfield among shortlist of three for beethoven concert hall
(above) david chipperfield’s proposal composes four rectangular glass volumes
all images courtesy of beethoven festspielhaus

in dedication to the historically renowned composer beethoven, a concert hall, or ‘festspielhaus‘, is being planned on a site along the rhine river in the composer’s hometown of bonn, germany. following a design competition comprised of ten internationally-based architecture offices, a shortlist of three firms has been selected, including david chipperfield architects, kadawittfeldarchitektur, and valentiny hvp architects. proposals ultimately declined by the jury came from zaha hadid architects, snøhetta, UNStudio, gmp architekten, arata isozaki, JAHN, and architekturbüro karl-heinz schommer. through november and december of 2014, the three final teams will take their schemes into further detail, while a finalist will be chosen in 2015 following cost estimation.

the design by aachen-based kadawittfeldarchitektur stacks horizontally undulating strata

with an expected opening in 2019, the ‘beethoven festspielhaus’ marks significant anniversaries from the composer’s lifetime, with 2020 being 250 years after his birth and 2027 being 200 years after his death. in seeking to establish the composer’s cultural legacy in built form, the organization describes the new facility will, ‘anchor these momentous anniversary celebrations and help honor and celebrate beethoven’s musical legacy into the distant future.’ while certainly highlighting classical works, the structure is envisioned as an international ‘house of music’, which will feature a diverse range of performances from genres such as crossover and pop.

luxembourg-based valentiny hvp architects envisions the concert hall with large waving roof forms

the project results from private funding, with deutsche post DHL having earmarked 30 million euros toward the effort, alongside 39 million euros pledged by the german government. fundraising will continue while the project progresses toward a planned construction start in 2016.

the architectural language references the city’s history, with tall slender stilts elevating the overhanging structures

the proposal by david chipperfield architects stacks four glass volumes upon the riverside site, which shift to create overhanging forms supported by tall and slender stilts. the composition allows access from the rhine promenade at the lowest floor, an upper entry at the level above, while also incorporating roof terraces on the upper stories. the design’s architectural language is informed by the city’s history, with the architect describing, ‘for the first time in its history, architecture will be allowing the site to celebrate and enjoy its extraordinary strategic significance.’

characterized by grained walnut veneer surfaces, david chipperfield’s scheme arranges the hall with a ‘shoebox’ layout

a curving glass wall wraps the entirety of the facility’s ground level

through the use of layered curving forms, german-based kadawittfeldarchitektur’s main intention was to harmonize the new hall to its surroundings, including the river, adjacent structures, and open spaces. beyond creating an exterior shape, the building’s geometries are expressed both on its interior as well as in the landscaping, resulting in a stepped transition down to the rhine promenade.

kadawittfeldarchitektur has chosen a ‘vineyard’ organization for the concert hall

site plan: kadawittfeldarchitektur

a large glass façade opens toward the river in valentiny hvp architects’ scheme

the luxembourg-based office valentiny hvp architects has envisioned a concrete structure of curving forms, which overlap with an orientation to the river. the building’s dynamic movement resolves in a large glass window facing toward a view of the rhine. in the proposal, the architects write, ‘a building for beethoven should not be angular and closed. instead, its climactic statements should come in a welcoming gesture of soft, dramaturgic movements.’