- Contest for the Redesign of the Weimar Theater
The competition for renovating the historically significant German National Theatre Weimar (DNT) saw none of the three winning designs meet all the necessary criteria, despite three teams emerging victorious out of twelve participants. In the end, all three designs ended up tied for third place in the jury's selection. Nonetheless, the renovation plans for the main house on Theaterplatz remain, with construction set to commence in 2027 and completion expected by spring 2032.
Jury chairperson Jan Hinnerk Meyer, managing partner of Meyer Architects GmbH and member of the German Sustainable Building Council, commented on the challenge given to the participants. "The task was demanding, considering the tight spatial constraints and budget guidelines, requiring an incorporation of an extensive room program to cater to a modern and forward-thinking multi-genre theatre," he said. Despite none of the offices fully meeting this challenge, their approaches hold promise for the upcoming tendering process.
Funding for this important theatre renovation totals around 167 million euros, coming from both federal and state governments. This money is crucial for updating the 1908-built theatre to meet today's safety, accessibility, and sustainability standards while preserving its historical charm.
The DNT building previously housed the ducal court theatre, which Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832) once directed. Additionally, the theatre building holds significance in political history, as it served as the gathering place for the newly elected German National Assembly in 1919, which then drafted the constitution for the Weimar Republic.
Culture Minister Claudia Roth recognized the importance of the renovation in a statement, emphasizing, "The German National Theatre Weimar plays a uniquely significant role in German democratic history and serves as a cultural center of influence that reaches far beyond Weimar."
The winning designs for the renovation of the Theatre in Weimar, although tied for third place, failed to meet all the necessary criteria. The German National Theatre Weimar, with its rich history and cultural significance in Germany, will continue its renovation, aiming for completion by 2032.
