![[Translate to English:] Außenhof mit modernisiertem Gebäudekomplex und markantem Hochbau unter blauem Himmel](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/1/csm_20190416_SBK_Aussenaufnahmen_Oper_Schauspielhaus-57-1_12f30294bd.jpg)
Refurbishment and Extension of Cologne Municipal Theatres
![[Translate to English:] Großer Zuschauerraum mit Reihen dunkler Sitze und umlaufenden Balkonen](/fileadmin/_processed_/9/7/csm_Opernhaus_Innen_Saal_078b86b035.jpg)
A revitalised cultural quarter for the city
The refurbishment of the ensemble at Offenbachplatz in Cologne transforms the listed buildings of the Opera House and Schauspielhaus into a contemporary cultural quarter. Wilhelm Riphahn’s architecture has been restored, upgraded in terms of energy performance and technically renewed. At the same time, the ensemble has gained two new performance spaces: the Children’s Opera beneath the smaller Offenbachplatz and the ”Little House” on the former site of the Opernterrassen. The architectural task combined the preservation of a landmarked, city‑shaping structure with an expansion of its spatial and functional possibilities.
Comprehensive refurbishmentof the existing buildings: Opera House and Schauspielhaus fully renewed in structural, heritage and technical terms
Ensemble continued: Children’s Opera and “Little House” expand the cultural venue with two additional performance spaces
Four‑venue complex: over 1,200 seats in the Opera House, around 700 in the Schauspielhaus, up to 200 in the Children’s Opera and 150 in the ”Little House” offer a broad cultural spectrum
Reorganised logistics: a covered delivery yard, additional underground storage areas and two new rehearsal stages create a more efficient back‑of‑house
Enormous complexity: 72 trades, 58 companies and 22 planning offices are involved in the refurbishment and extension
- Project
- Refurbishment & Extension of Municipal Theatres
- Location
- Cologne
- Client
- Bühnen der Stadt Köln
- Partners
- ARGE HPP + theapro + BRB Lindlar
- GFA
- 66.150 m²
- Completion
- 2026
- Uses
- Opera House, Schauspielhaus, Children’s Opera, Kleines Haus, rehearsal stages, workshops, gastronomy
![[Translate to English:] Technischer Bühnenraum mit zahlreichen Hängezügen und Beleuchtungssystemen](/fileadmin/_processed_/8/0/csm_Buehnen_Koeln_Doku_Buehne_Beleuchtung-3-1_c314d82422.jpg)
![[Translate to English:] Moderner Vorplatz mit großer Glasfassade und farbigen Sitzmöbeln bei Tageslicht](/fileadmin/_processed_/1/e/csm_SBK_Opernhaus_foyer_c59b591f28.jpg)
