Theatre, Bregenz

Platz der Wiener Symphoniker

Details
Clients
Amt der Landeshauptstadt Bregenz, Hochbau
Type
Square
Collaboration
Dietrich Untertrifaller Architekten, Bregenz
Durée
2005 - 2006
Status
Realised
Area
21 000 m²
Pays
Autriche

The square in front of the Bregenz Theatre is part of a conglomerate of spaces between the town of Bregenz and Lake Constance, differing in form, typology and use. Public life on the square itself varies. Thats why the concept of the square creates a space appropriate to its different capacities of high urbanity during the festival and use as a park providing a fluent atmospheric exterior space in everyday life. The design reacts to the extreme variety in use, creating multylayer place that recreates and strengthens the typologies of park, square and promenade.

A continuous ground cover defines a wide, open square in the centre, around the building and up to the lake shore. The greyish-brown smooth-looking asphalt reveals its rich texture at a closer look. The material refers to the stamped clay-floors in old rome. A tree volume reminding of a park landscape borders the square. Each group of trees creates a specific atmosphere due the varying choice of indigenous trees. This way the entire tree volume becomes a rich collection of species reminding of an arboretum. The use of indigenous species creates a famliar image and connects the square to the surrounding landscape.

The light concept causes an interesting inversion of spatial perception in the night: The square, a wide and clear common space in daylight, is darker than the space under the trees at night. This way the focus of a nightly visitor changes to the spaces under the trees, lying in the shadows at daytime. The spatial concept with an open centre and the tree volume surrounding it, does not only provide a high-quality public space, but also creates a high degree of transparency with regards to orientation and accessibility.