Event Center Festspielhaus
Like a city on a small scale
The renowned Festspielhaus on Lake Constance has been modernised, reorganised, greatly expanded and developed into a multi-purpose cultural, social and economic centre of international standing. The project impressively demonstrates how an unsightly conglomerate of buildings from the late seventies can be transformed into clearly structured and graceful architecture.
Thanks to extensive and precise pre-planning and prefabrication, we were able to realise the complex construction work, carried out in several stages, without interrupting operations. In the first stage, which lasted until 1997, the workshop stage, lakeside foyer and lakeside studio as well as an administrative wing were built.
In 2005, the festival theatre was renovated and extended. Guests are now greeted by a light-flooded glass façade and an inviting forecourt instead of grey concrete. The main foyer, Great Hall, foyers and lakeside gallery were redesigned and the building's technology was modernised. From 2022 to 2024, we refurbished the outdoor grandstand and Seebühne (Lakeside stage), updated the technology of the workshop stage and built a new multi-purpose building.
Structured into three main sections
The transformation of the rather restrictive building from 1979 into a multifaceted, inviting facility is the result not of formalistic gimmickry, but of a well-thought-out unbundling of operational problem nodes. Two eye-catching, oversized bars hovering above the building divide the spacious complex into three main sections: studio and workshop stage, great hall and lakeside tribune. A new public square with a view of the lake was created around the sculpture by Gottfried Bechtold at the front of the building.
Formative prisms
The floor plans of the festival theatre function like a city on a small scale. The two long, protruding prisms are the defining element. The tall, two-storey supporting structure at the rear contains offices for administration and production. Essential, spacious cross-connections have been created underneath. From below, the glass lift tower slides into the spatial prism.
The Lakeside stage
The historical starting point for the Festspielhaus was the Seebühne, the tiers of which were extended to 7,000 seats and supplemented with a covered lounge. In addition, the lake stage now has a theatre hall with a capacity of 1,800 spectators and a lake studio. In summer 2023, we completely renovated and extended the lake stage. All folding seats were replaced and the concrete steps on which the chairs were fixed were renovated.
The Great hall
The Great Hall was equipped with state-of-the-art technology and acoustics and extended by 594 seats with a tier. Walls and floor in acacia wood, the suspended ceiling made of stainless steel mesh and the red upholstered chairs give visitors a theatre atmosphere in a contemporary design language.
The "Propter Homines" hall
The second long prism inserted between the Seebühne and the Great hall provides access to all performance venues. It projects far beyond the main entrance at the front with the two-storey multi-purpose hall "Propter Homines". The hall opens onto the square with its glazed front and is completely clad in Canadian maple like a precious wood casket. At the other end of the prism, the floor-to-ceiling glazed lakeside foyer offers a breathtaking view of the lake and mountains. Fine woods, restrained colours and sensitive lighting design create a festive and elegant atmosphere.
