Snøhetta wins international contest for iconic music venue

Tenderstream member Snøhetta has been announced as the winner of the international Opera House of the Future competition, with the firm’s design selected for the new home of Neue Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf. The decision was made by a 25-member jury, with the full concept made public on 18th November.

The design is a compact volume, located in a 38,000  sq m triangular block bounded by three central streets. A purposeful cut between two of them forms a public passage, enhancing daylight and improving the block’s permeability. The building mass is compact, divided into three asymmetrical and trapezium-shaped segments, with a silhouette that symbolises the unity of three institutions under one roof: the new opera house, the Clara Schumann Music School, and the city’s Music Library.

Snøhetta was inspired by the River Rhine, which has carved a meandering path through the region, shaping the sedimentary foundation upon which Düsseldorf is built. The ground floor is conceived as an eroded cave, forming an organic open space. This carved-out design opens the ground floor on all sides, creating connections between the venue and its surroundings.

The natural stone cladding of the facade harmonises with Düsseldorf’s city palette while reducing summer heat gain and mitigating the urban heat island effect. The building’s interiors follow the logic of the façade and the theme of erosion, utilising mineral materials with a calm flow of tone and texture. The main auditorium, with 1,300 seats, features smoked oak panelling and red seating, tying in with the colour scheme of the existing opera house.

Heiner Farwick, architect, urban planner, and competition jury chairman, stated: "The building, which is cleverly divided into three segments, skilfully reacts to its surroundings, opening up a variety of views of the city and demonstrating a design of great sophistication.”

Lucy Nordberg

Tenderstream Head of Research

This tender was first published by Tenderstream on 01.08.2024 here

Start your free trial here or email our team directly at customerservices@tenderstream.com