gmp renovates a midcentury concert hall in Kiel, Germany

Kiel, Germany, is roughly 50 miles south of the Danish border. There, architects von Gerkan, Marg and Companions (gmp) and bbp : architekten have renovated a midcentury live performance corridor in-built 1965 and designed by Sprotte & Neve, a historic German agency. The corridor hosts the Philharmonic Orchestra of Kiel and is adjoining to Kiel Fortress, a constructing that dates again to the thirteenth century.

The Live performance Corridor at Kiel Fortress has views of the Kiel Canal and is clad in Norwegian Alta quartzite. Roughly 70 % of the inside and exterior quartzite panels had been reused, as a part of the renovation. Forged bronze doorways had been eliminated, and the bar and coat verify had been relocated to make for higher egress between the doorway space and its accompanying forecourt.

Glazing from the Sixties was changed with an energy-optimized, post-and-beam glass facade that achieves the identical degree of transparency as the unique envelope. The unique elevator was relocated nearer to the doorway space for elevated accessibility, and inhospitable steps from the unique plan had been additionally eliminated to create a barrier-free surroundings.

At first, the constructing was meant to function a multifunctional corridor; solely time beyond regulation did it turn into a devoted live performance corridor. This evolution necessitated an adaptation of its acoustics system. Furthermore, age-related deficiencies and harm from earlier repairs, gmp stated, created additional difficulties that wanted rectification. Particular acoustic and technical calls for had been addressed to make for a contemporary live performance expertise.

Alterations had been made at choose terrace areas to enhance sight strains. Twelve acoustic reflectors had been put in above the stage space the place musicians carry out. In an announcement from gmp, the agency stated that the undertaking “exemplifies the challenges confronted by many cultural buildings of the post-war trendy period, which at the moment require practical and technical renewal whereas preserving their architectural identification.”

gmp has demonstrated expertise on renovation initiatives just like the Live performance Corridor at Kiel Fortress. In 2024, gmp restored a concrete “hypershell” by Ulrich Müther in Magdeburg, Germany. The agency additionally refurbished Actual Madrid’s soccer stadium in Spain, and accomplished a concrete municipal swimming pool in Leipzig.