Locations and Urban Spaces
For over 50 years, the twin theatres of Schauspiel and Oper Frankfurt have been among the city's most important cultural sites. But the future of the Städtische Bühnen has been written in the stars for some time. The building on Willy-Brandt-Platz is in such a state of disrepair that an urgently needed renovation would cost enormous sums of money. So of course the question is: renovate or tear down and build anew? And if so, where? A few months ago, Osthafen came into play as a possible location. That would certainly enhance the Ostend, but it would take culture out of the city centre. It would make much more sense to stay close to the old location, in the vicinity of other venues such as the Volksbühne, the Schmiere or the English Theatre and only a stone's throw away from the Museumsufer.
After the Frankfurt City Parliament decided in January 2020 in favour of a new building for the theatre, the staff unit "Future of the Municipal Theatres" examined various locations. The results of the variant investigation, which were developed on behalf of the Department of Culture and Science of the City of Frankfurt by PFP PLANUNGS GmbH and gmp · Architekten von Gerkan, Marg und Partner, are now available and will be presented to the public in the form of an exhibition at the German Museum of Architecture (DAM).
The following variants were investigated:
- New construction of the opera at Willy-Brandt-Platz with new construction of the theatre in the Wallanlagen opposite
.x>N
- New building of the theatre at Willy-Brandt-Platz with new building of the opera on the area Neue Mainzer Straße 47-51
- New construction of the Schauspiel at Opernplatz 2, opposite the Alte Oper, and new construction of the opera at Willy-Brandt-Platz
- New construction of a double theatre at Willy-Brandt-Platz
Another location for a complete relocation is currently being investigated.
On the basis of these investigations, the architects developed initial visions for some variants, which also take the urban spatial effect into consideration: Willy-Brandt-Platz becomes more accessible and can be experienced as a public space; the ramparts are integrated into city life through expanded functions and can be used in a more diverse way. The cultural offerings of the branches of the Museum of Modern Art (MMK Tower) and the Weltkulturen Museum will be placed in a new, larger context, and the green spaces will be given a connecting function as a "cultural mile" between the Jewish Museum and the Alter Oper.
In the next step that now lies ahead, the requirements for the stages will also be defined: What uses are possible and desirable in addition to classical drama and opera, in order to open up and enliven the buildings outside of performance times? What does this mean for the urban space? What stage forms do we need for future performances?
These questions, among others, will also be discussed in public events.
If you want to see the designs for yourself, you should definitely stop by the DAM by 6. September necessarily in the DAM vorbeischauen.
