cukrowicz nachbaur awarded first prize in competition to design new munich concert hall

austrian firm cukrowicz nachbaur architekten has been selected ahead of a host of established names to build a new concert hall in munich. although the bregenz-based practice was awarded first prize, the competition organizers will now hold further discussions with the four other shortlisted teams, including runner-up PFP planungs and david chipperfield architects, who took third place. copenhagen-based firm 3XN came in fourth, while german practice staab architekten round out the top five. the competition attracted a great number of entries, with henning larsen architects, zaha hadid architects, mecanoo, and christ & gantenbein all acknowledged for their particular responses.

the jury praised cukrowicz nachbaur’s design for being both ‘restrained’ and ‘expressive’
image courtesy of cukrowicz nachbaur architekten (also main image)

the competition’s brief tasked practices with designing a solitary concert hall near munich’s ostbahnhof railway station. the proposed schemes were to include two auditoriums with 1,800 and 600 seats respectively. both halls are to be complemented with a range of additional functions including an outpost of munich’s college for music and drama, other educational facilities, and a foyer with offices and retail outlets. a basement level will house an underground parking garage.

the proposed building features steeply inclined glass façades
image © hans-joachim wuthenow

the jury praised cukrowicz nachbaur architekten’s design for being both ‘restrained’ and ‘expressive’. the proposed building features steeply inclined glass façades that soar to a total height of 45 meters. the glazing also permits views inside, offering glimpses of the activity within. in order to further integrate itself into the existing urban fabric, the base section has a low height — a gesture designed to make the potentially imposing structure more approachable. the small concert venue is found at ground level, while the larger concert hall is stacked above. at night, the building is gently illuminated from within, standing as a beacon for the community.

section illustrating the configuration of the concert halls (click for larger version)
image courtesy of cukrowicz nachbaur architekten

the entry by PFP planungs, which came in as runner-up, features a façade punctured with small spherical openings. the sculptural shape of the structure has been designed in response to its neighboring buildings, while the main entrance is accentuated and defined by a bold incision in its mass. david chipperfield’s third placed proposal appears externally as a ziggurat, while internally the smaller hall is found at the top with the main one below. in the larger auditorium the audience is seated on a continuous ramp, which recalls the form of the staircase that wraps around the building itself.

the entry by PFP planungs features a façade punctured with spherical openings
image courtesy of PFP planungs

3XN’s fourth place entry was praised by the jury for its strong aesthetic effect. the venue is clad with a façade that appears as a cloth draped on top of the structure. a dramatic staircase leads inside the building, adding to a sense of theater and intrigue. finally, the slender form of staab architekten’s design refers to the district’s industrial history. rather than occupying the entire plot, the proposed scheme offers generous amounts of open space. all competition entries, including models and plans, are on display at munich’s white box gallery until november 26, 2017.

PFP planungs’ entry came in runner-up
image courtesy of PFP planungs

david chipperfield’s third placed proposal appears as a ziggurat
image courtesy of david chipperfield architects

in the larger auditorium the audience is seated on a continuous ramp
image courtesy of david chipperfield architects

3XN’s fourth place entry was praised by the jury for its strong aesthetic effect
image courtesy of 3XN

3XN utilized sinuous forms internally as well as externally
image courtesy of 3XN

the slender form of staab architekten’s design refers to the district’s industrial history
image courtesy of staab architekten

all competition entries are on display at munich’s white box gallery until november 26, 2017
image courtesy of staab architekten

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