Music Theatre Linz

LINZ, Austria

competition 2005 - 2.phase

in cooperation with Prof. Sill Architekten

Out of the opera hotel - the one-time Austrian State Railways building- and the new Music Theatre building, the Linz Music Forum rises on the south-east flank of the Public Gardens.
A representative municipal plaza is created directly opposite the park between theatre and hotel. The new construction to the south affords the public gardens an urbanistic setting.
Together with the utilities that realign the boundaries, the Music Forum by the Public Gardens becomes a prominent place to meet in that will develop into a significant public meeting-point quite apart from its use as such during the evening. The plaza in front of it can also be used by the theatre in connection with its studio stage. Its spatial effect allows it to take over the function of a plaza for the gardens.

The entrance to the theatre is orientated towards the plaza. Walking across the plaza is part and parcel of a theatre visit whether one comes by taxi, bus, train, or simply on foot.
In the foyer below, one finds oneself behind an all-glass facade at plaza-level. The upper foyer, on the other hand, extends round the great hall as far as Kärtnerstrasse, thus affording a view of the Public Gardens and street activities.
The sculptural form of the building with its high-rising landmark of a stage-tower, its beehive-like auditorium and its generously-glazed foyer orientated towards the city, turns the Music Theatre into not just an urban landmark, but a meeting-place of prominence as well.