An innovative, temporary structure has been developed to serve as an interim venue during the five-year renovation of the Staatstheater Kassel. Designed with a focus on circularity, the building is engineered for straightforward decommissioning and material recovery at the end of its lifespan. The layout features a large, central hall for the stage and auditorium, flanked by aisles for circulation and a low-profile annex housing the foyer and intermission catering.
To maximize the efficiency of the main hall, auxiliary functions – including HVAC systems, artist dressing rooms, workshops, and sanitary facilities – are situated in modular container units immediately adjacent to the building. Administrative offices and scenery storage are housed separately in multi-story stacked containers and a dedicated warehouse hall neighboring the main structure.
The building’s structural centerpiece is a hall roof spanning 28 m, supported by story-high steel trusses. These trusses cantilever over the side aisles, providing essential stabilization for the facade columns. Below the roof, a gridiron (fly loft) at the bottom chord level provides technical staff with direct access for the maintenance and operation of the overhead stage machinery. Internal staircases located within the side aisles ensure seamless access to the galleries and the roof structure.
