graber pulver envisions new lucerne theater draped in a soft curtain

competition entry for a riverfront theater

Graber Pulver’s new theater in Lucerne is an ambitious proposal that is designed to introduce a contemporary icon housing opera, drama, and dance performances. The Swiss architects envision the project as part of a design competition, and locate the theater along the banks of the Reuss River directly adjacent to the seventeenth-century baroque Jesuit Church St. Francis Cavier.

Imagined as a stunning backdrop for performances and for the identity of the city, the proposal takes advantage of the scenic views and celebrates the historical significance of its location. ‘Playful openness, festivity and solemn grace characterize the expression of this important cultural venue,’ the architects comment.

images © Filippo Bolognese Images | @filippobolognese

the translucent curtain façade by graber pulver

The architects at Graber Pulver design the unique façade of the new Lucerne theater as a dynamic curtain between the inside and outside world. During the day, this shroud ensures both shade and privacy for the interiors, while at night, light penetrates to the outside to transform the architecture into a softly glowing lantern along the riverfront.

The single theater is divided between three distinct stages, each with its own foyer, to host the separate opera, drama, and dance performances. These stages are distributed across three separate levels, allowing for each stage’s independent and unbundled operation. With this versatile organization, the project is planned to ensure that its complex program runs fluidly. Overall, Graber Pulver’s vision for Lucerne’s new theater is a unique and creative proposal to bring new life to the historic riverfront.

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short section

long section

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site plan

physical site model

physical model

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project info:

project title: Lucerne Theater

architecture: Graber Pulver Architekten AG | @graberpulver

location: Lucerne, Switzerland

status: competition entry, 2022

landscape: Krebs und Herde GmbH, Winterthur

construction economics: Takt Baumanagement AG
civil engineering: Muttoni et Fernandez Ingénieurs Conseils AG
building technology: Gruenberg + Partner AG
acoustics: Applied Acoustics GmbH
electrical engineering: R+B Engineering AG
theater planning: Theaterplanung GmbH
gastro planning: Planbar AG
sustainability, building physics: EK Energiekonzepte AG
fire protection: AFC, Air Flow Consulting AG
physical model: Modellbau Zaborowsky GmbH