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Philipp Zinniker1
Alexander Gempeler2
Alexander Gempeler3
MBBM-BSO4

Stadttheater Bern, Switzerland

Object Type

Client
Stadt Bern

Architects
Itten+Brechbühl Ag, Bern; Pascale Bellorini, Bern

Completion
2017

Expertises
Building Acoustics
Room Acoustics

After interim considerations for a new theater building, the decision was made in Bern in 2011 to completely renovate the Stadttheater, which was completed in 1903. In addition to the auditorium and stage technology, the extensive renovations carried out in several stages included the foyer areas, the redesign of a studio stage and the rehearsal and artists' rooms. In November 2016, the theater finally celebrated a glittering reopening with Figaro's Wedding. The NZZ described the successful building project as a "great success" and a "benchmark for the renovation of other theater and concert halls from the turn of the century".

The acoustics of the building were already good before the refurbishment, but there were justified requests for improvements to the 4-section building. For example, well-designed wall cladding now reduces disruptive sound reflections from the concave walls. Structural measures in the orchestra pit and new proscenium reflectors favorably increase the sound balance. The new seating (688 seats) and the modified seating arrangement have also been optimized from an acoustic point of view. A new concert room was created for the occasional symphony concerts, which takes into account the special features of the building in terms of sound and function. In addition, the studio stage, the recording studio, the rehearsal rooms as well as the artists' areas and foyers were treated in terms of room acoustics.

Image Copyright
1 Philipp Zinniker
2 Alexander Gempeler
3 Alexander Gempeler
4 MBBM-BSO

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