Concert Hall
Nuremberg · 2005–2008
The building ensemble of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra is located in the southern head building of the Congress Hall on the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds. The orchestra has used this part of the unfinished monumental structure since 1963; what was initially conceived as a temporary use developed over the decades into an established cultural venue. Through the comprehensive refurbishment and extension, the existing building was reorganised spatially, technically and functionally and transformed into a contemporary concert and event venue.
- Client
- Nürnberger Symphoniker e.V.
- Location
- Nuremberg
- Type of works
- Full refurbishment and Remodelling
- Work stages (HOAI)
- 1-8 (general planning)
- Status
- Completed
- Typology
- Education & Culture, Lighting & Interior Design
- Year
- Gross floor area (GFA)
- 7,000 m²
- Usable floor area
- 1,400 m²
Updated:
At the heart of the design is a deliberate approach to the historic fabric. The massive, largely closed brick façade is opened only selectively. New elements remain legible as additions of their own time without competing with the monumentality of the existing structure. On the north façade, a transparent light box projects from the building and marks the new entrance from afar. A broad, filigree steel staircase and a glass lift lead into the building and form a deliberate counterpoint to the weight and enclosure of the existing architecture. The different layers of time remain visible alongside one another.
With the new access from Bayernstraße, a well-proportioned foyer, new cloakrooms, sanitary facilities and barrier-free circulation, the building gains an address appropriate to its public use. At the same time, the forecourt becomes a shared reception and gathering space for visitors to the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra and the adjacent Serenadenhof.
Inside, earlier installations were removed, while existing wall and structural elements were refurbished and structurally optimised. The concert hall itself was fully developed and technically upgraded. In this way, the transformation brings together two initially contrasting tasks: the respectful preservation of a historically charged monument and the confident establishment of a contemporary cultural use. The music hall, opened in 2008, remains the home venue of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra.
A New Address within the Historic Fabric
Alongside the concert hall, the new access on the north façade is a key element of the transformation. The brick wall is selectively opened and complemented by a transparent glass box, a steel staircase and a glass lift. At night, the entrance becomes an illuminated landmark on the Dutzendteich and gives the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra a distinct address.
Building on the Existing Fabric
The new external staircase becomes the defining element of the circulation concept. As a light, independent structure, it stands in front of the massive brick façade and creates a deliberate opening within the existing fabric. The addition remains legible as a new layer of time, while old and new enter into a restrained architectural dialogue.
Foyer and Circulation
Within the foyer, the existing structural framework becomes part of the new spatial order. Existing columns are not concealed but incorporated into the design and complemented by precisely positioned new elements. This creates a tension between the rigidity of the existing structure and the lightness of the new interior architecture.
Building on the Existing Fabric
The removal of earlier installations reveals the building’s structural substance once again. Masonry and load-bearing elements are selectively repaired and strengthened without obscuring the traces of the existing architecture. The transformation develops from the historic fabric itself, allowing its material character to remain clearly legible.
From Rehearsal Room to Concert Hall
The former rehearsal room was transformed into a fully equipped concert hall with 419 seats and technically upgraded throughout. New levels, audience areas and equipment tailored to concert use create an independent performance venue within the historic building. To support the financing of the conversion, HAGEN initiated a seat sponsorship programme.
From Rehearsal Room to Concert Hall
Opened in 2008, the concert hall was created from the former rehearsal room of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra. Today, it offers 489 seats. Tiered audience levels, precise lighting and technical infrastructure create an independent performance venue within the historic Congress Hall.
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