Second prize in the competition Interim location Württembergische Staatstheater Stuttgart

Heinle Wischer Partnerschaft freier Architekten mbB, Stuttgart was awarded 2nd prize in the international competition for the Interim Opera House out of 20 participants. Markus Gartz and his team from Mayer-Vorfelder & Dinkelacker acted as consultants for the structural design. The 1st prize was awarded to a+r Architekten from Stuttgart and NL Architects from the Netherlands. The decision was announced by the jury of the Europe-wide architectural competition on June 19. The opera house at Oberer Schlossgarten, designed by Munich architect Max Littmann in 1912 and last renovated 35 years ago, no longer complies with current regulations and standards. During the extensive refurbishment, modernization and expansion, the opera and Stuttgart Ballet will operate at the interim location next to the Wagenhallen. The pre-construction work for the interim opera house is planned for the Wagenhallen from mid-2025.

The "cradle to cradle" concept is at the heart of our design. Instead of a composite structure, the supporting structure is mainly planned as a combination of recycled steel and timber construction - partially supplemented by recycled concrete. This means that it can be dismantled, reused and recycled at the end of its useful life. The use of RC concrete and recycled steel also noticeably improves the carbon footprint compared to conventional steel and concrete. In the design, the main body connects transparently, lightly and openly with the surroundings. Visitors can thus observe urban life from inside the venue. The auditorium itself is planned as a cube, surrounded by galleries and access levels. The modular structure reflects the potential of modern architecture.
After the interim use, large parts of the interim opera house are to be integrated into the new "Maker City" district and thus into the new Rosenstein quarter behind the main railway station. This is being redeveloped as part of Stuttgart 21. The "Maker City" is a pilot project for the combination of culture, living and working.

The competition partners

Architecture: Heinle Wischer Partnerschaft freier Architekten mbB, Stuttgart
Consultants, specialist planners, experts: Mayer-Vorfelder Dinkelacker Ingenieurgesellschaft für Bauwesen GmbH und Co KG, Markus Gartz (structural engineering); Müller-BBM Building Solutions GmbH, Gunter Engel (building physics)