pavillion 21 mini opera space by coophimmelb(l)au © armin hess, isochrom

coop himmelb(l)au have released plans of their ‘pavillion 21 mini opera space’. the temporary mobile performance space created for the bavarian state opera in munich, germany will be able to accommodate 300 visitors. it is intended to be used for a wide range of events at the annual opera festival 2010 and then travel to various locations.

the design goal for the pavilion is to impact a unique soundscape by helping to reduce the apparent noise and to create a ‘zone of silence’  where it is technically not possible, but this term used here is intended to describe an area where you can sense a change in the soundscape that gives the impression of a quieter environment.

for achieving the concept they use three mechanisms, firstly the shielding effect of the plaza blocks sound from the road, secondly the shaping of the pavilion surface to collect and deflect sound and thirdly the material characteristic of the pavilion surface to absorb and reflect sound.

the pavilions spatial structure acts as a ‘transformer’ that changes our perception and sensation of the soundscape and music on the plaza around the pavilion and inside the performance space.

coop himmelb(l)au: pavillion 21 mini opera space pavillion 21 mini opera space – model image © markus pillhofer

coop himmelb(l)au: pavillion 21 mini opera space image © markus pillhofer

coop himmelb(l)au: pavillion 21 mini opera space image © markus pillhofer

coop himmelb(l)au: pavillion 21 mini opera space image © markus pillhofer

coop himmelb(l)au: pavillion 21 mini opera space image © armin hess, isochrom

coop himmelb(l)au: pavillion 21 mini opera space image © armin hess, isochrom

project info: pavilion 21 mini opera space, munich, germany 2008 – 2010 (in planning)

client: the bavarian state opera munich, germany floor area: 560 meters squared (gross area) site area: 1.790 meters squared net area: 430 meters squared gross area: 560 meters squared footprint: 560 meters squared volume: 4.350 metes squared

height: 12.5m length: 38.5m width: 25.5m

project team: design principal: wolf d. prix project partner: paul kath project architect: volker kilian design architect: sophie grell project team: martin jelinek, daniela krohnert, valerie messini, judith mussel, martin neumann, renate weissenbock models: sebastian buchta, paul hoszowski