“Chance of the Century” in Frankfurt | Hesse
In several German cities, stages from the post-war period are being built for renovation. In Frankfurt, the plans for a new opera and drama building are now becoming more concrete. The mayor is already talking about a chance of the century.
What is the best location for a new urban theater building in Frankfurt? Experts have checked the feasibility of five different proposals, three variants are now on the shortlist. It is clear that there will be an inner-city solution, said Ina Hartwig (SPD), Head of the Department of Culture, at the presentation of the investigation report this week. All three variants are located at or near the previous location, after a new building at the Osthafen is finally off the table due to the poor connection.
Three variations in conversation
The opera and drama are currently housed in a partially dilapidated double facility on Willy-Brandt-Platz. Frankfurt’s Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann (SPD) emphasized the importance of the new building: “Opera and theater are lighthouses that shine far beyond Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main area,” he said. It is therefore “not just a project of the century, but also an opportunity of the century.” Frankfurt could become a cultural epicenter of Europe.
And this is what the three variants look like in concrete terms: With the »Kulturmeilen« variant, the theater – newly built – remains in its previous location, the opera is being built not far on Neue Mainzer Straße. The »mirror variant«, on the other hand, envisions an opera on Willy-Brandt-Platz and the play in the Wallanlagen opposite. In the third solution, both stages will be rebuilt at the current location – with an external workshop building. The structural feasibility was checked during the investigations. This also includes the effects on the climate, traffic and costs.
All three variants have their advantages and disadvantages, said Hartwig. When the report was presented, however, it became clear that the »culture mile« variant was gilded as a favorite. This is “ecologically and economically according to our studies the most suitable”, said the head of the staff unit “Future of the Municipal Theaters”, Mathias Hölzinger. In addition, the culture mile could become a reality. This would begin with the Jewish Museum, from the theater on Willy-Brandt-Platz, the Tower MMK, the opera, the new branch of the Weltkulturen Museum and – as a final point – the old opera.
The »culture miles« variant with an estimated cost of 811 million euros would also be the new solution. However, this does not include the price for the property on Neue Mainzer Strasse, where the opera is to be built. It is also unclear how the negotiations with the landowner, Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen (Helaba) stand. Talks were going on, it was said.
Cheapest solution: 811 million euros
The Frankfurt Opera and Drama Theater have shared the building with the characteristic glass facade on Willy-Brandt-Platz since 1963. Inside, parts are from the previous building from 1902. The city parliament voted for a new building last year. A renovation is not a sustainable, economical and good solution, it said.
Frankfurt is not alone when it comes to the question of new construction and renovation of cultural centers that have come over the years. In Düsseldorf, for example, the listed opera house from the post-war period is a year of renovation, and a new opera house is to be built in the state capital. In Cologne, the opera dates from 1957, the theater from 1962. Both are currently being renovated – the reopening is planned for 2024 after long delays.
The city parliament has to decide on the final location of the stages in Frankfurt. In a next step, an architecture competition is called. Overall, a project duration of ten to twelve years can be expected, the actual construction time is estimated at around six to eight years.