Award
XAVER Award, 2017
Silver
Best Brand Worlds & Temporary Exhibitions
2017
Temporary Theater Cube, Bern
Location
Bern, Switzerland
Year
2016
Products
Hall construction
During the renovation of Bern’s historic City Theater, an extraordinary temporary venue was erected in the middle of Waisenhausplatz: the temporary theater cube by NUSSLI. The project combined architecture, structural engineering, grandstand construction, and theater technology to create a fully functional temporary theater building. Within just a few weeks, NUSSLI constructed a 52 × 22-meter theater building, approximately 11 meters high, complete with an audience seating area, stage, lobby, food service, backstage, and technical areas, as well as all building infrastructure. The cube impressively demonstrated how complex cultural buildings can be realized on a temporary and flexible basis while maintaining high architectural quality.
A full-scale theater building as a temporary solution
The Theaterkubus was far more than a traditional event hall. The goal was to provide the Konzert Theater Bern with a venue that fully met the requirements of a modern theater operation while its main building was undergoing renovation. To this end, NUSSLI handled the planning, project management, and complete construction of the building. Inside, a fully equipped theater was created with approximately 480 seats, a stage, dressing rooms, backstage areas, dining facilities, restrooms, and all necessary lighting, sound, and HVAC systems. The historic façade design harmoniously integrated the cube into the cityscape of Bern’s Old Town while simultaneously making the building an architectural eye-catcher. The project exemplifies how temporary architecture today goes far beyond traditional event venues and enables the creation of high-quality cultural buildings on a temporary basis.
Felix Brodmann
Felix Brodmann
Felix Brodmann
Innovative facility technology for challenging locations
The Theaterkubus marked the first use of NUSSLI’s newly developed modular hall system. The structure was specifically designed to enable the construction of large halls without supports, in a flexible manner, and within a very short time. The assembly method was particularly innovative: The entire roof structure was first assembled at working height and then lifted as a single unit to its final height. This allowed all work to be carried out safely, efficiently, and without complex crane logistics. The performance capabilities of this system now form the basis for numerous challenging Halls- and special structures by NUSSLI—from temporary Sports Halls from complex event venues to international country pavilions and Custom Designs for world's fairs. The project in Bern marked an important milestone in the further development of modular architecture.
Building on Top of a Parking Garage
One of the biggest challenges was the building site. Beneath Waisenhausplatz is a parking garage with a maximum floor load capacity of only 800 kg/m². At the same time, there was hardly any storage or assembly space available outside the building. Thanks to the modular construction system, all loads could be distributed evenly. There was no need whatsoever for heavy cranes or foundations. Assembly took place almost exclusively within the building’s footprint, which meant that the public square remained largely usable during the construction phase and adjacent streets did not have to be closed.
Felix Brodmann
Flexibility Throughout the Entire Life Cycle
Even during the planning phase, it was taken into account that the renovation work on the municipal theater might be delayed. As a result, a building was created that could not only be erected quickly but could also be easily expanded or kept in use for a longer period. The modular wall and hall elements allowed for adjustments to new requirements at any time. Utilities remained accessible, room layouts could be changed, and additional uses could be integrated without any problems. The result was not a traditional temporary structure, but a temporary infrastructure designed for long-term use. This high degree of adaptability is now one of the key features of many of NUSSLI’s modular construction projects—whether they involve cultural venues, school buildings, sports arenas, or complex custom solutions.
Award
Kategorie
Status
Jahr
