Kulturpalast Dresden

The conversion and refurbishment of the Kulturpalast Dresden, which dates from 1969, included the new construction of a concert hall for an audience of 1,800 at the core of the existing building, the structure of which was retained in accordance with the principles of the preservation of historic buildings. The original building substance was carefully reconstructed and integrated in the new design, while the facades were upgraded to current energy conservation standards.

The main users of the Kulturpalast are the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, the City’s central library, and the “Herkuleskeule” cabaret, which together have created a new combination of culture, education, and entertainment; the foyer to the south provides shared access to all three functions. The cabaret venue is located beneath the concert hall which, in the two upper stories, is surrounded by the rooms of the library. The red color of the textile surfaces has been adopted from the original Palace, and has been replicated as a leitmotif throughout the building.

The architecture of the concert hall follows the “vineyard” model, with terraced seating that fits with the geometry of the hexagonal arrangement of the available space. Acoustically, the hall supports the darker sound of the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra and makes multifunctional use of the venue possible.

With this new Kulturpalast concept, Dresden boasts a concert hall of international standing in an open venue of culture and knowledge which, as a place of civic encounters and communication, continues the lively tradition of the building.