ADEPT studio has won an international competition to transform the former Karstadt department store in Brunswick. The building, which is located in the historic city centre, will be transformed into Haus der Musik. The project involves the creation of an 18,000sq m multifunctional space including a concert hall, a public music school and publicly accessible spaces for residents.
Adaptation instead of demolition
The Karstadt Gewandhaus is a department store located at Poststraße 4-5 in Brunswick. It was built on the rubble of historic houses that were rained on by bombs during the Second World War. The building was designed by the architect Gottfried Böhm and his wife Elisabeth. Opened in 1978, the building was closed in 2021 due to insolvency. It has stood empty since then. Instead of demolishing it, the architects proposed reusing its structure, while retaining the cascading form of the shingled façade. A concert hall has been designed on top of the existing building, and the music school will be accessible directly from street level. A place associated by residents with commerce will be transformed into a cultural space with urban continuity.
“Haus der Musik is a dream project – not only because of the scale, but because it allows us to combine everything that is important to us: transformation, sustainability and social and urban value,” – says Martin Krogh, co-founder of ADEPT. “This is the biggest project in the history of our office and undoubtedly one of the most significant.”
New space in the Haus der Musik
The centrepiece of the project is the so-called Third Place. It is an open and flexible space that aims to become a new place for social integration and activity. It will include a performance, learning and meeting zone, combining an entrance, a music school and a concert hall. The educational programme will be integrated into the structure of the building to ensure a rhythm of daily activities, from learning to informal gatherings. In the basement, meanwhile, Klangkeller, a space dedicated to experimental sounds and alternative music events, has been designed. The concert hall will be located on the upper floors to limit interference with the existing foundations. It has been designed as a classic shoebox form, with an emphasis on acoustics and intimacy, using sound-reflecting wall and ceiling panels. Adjustable elements will allow the acoustic conditions to be adapted to the type of event. The auditorium will cover the ground floor and balconies, with rehearsal rooms and technical facilities located next to the auditorium. The foyer will be surrounded by a panoramic terrace overlooking the city.
A cultural centre in the heart of the city
The Haus der Musik is set to become a new cultural hub in the centre of Brunswick. The building is located on one of the main pedestrian routes and connects two important city squares, the Altstadtmarkt and the Kohlmarkt. The glazed ground floor, open terraces and lobbies are intended to allow integration into the public space. The design respects the scale and rhythm of the historic building while bringing in new energy and function. The stepped building form and rhythmic façade are intended to blend into the urban context, while marking the new role of the building. An important element of the design is the new façade, which references the original rhythm of the Karstadt department store façade but gives it a sculptural, contemporary feel. The cascading elements are intended to provide a play of light and shadow and a visual contact with the interior. The glazed ground floor, meanwhile, will bring the public space closer to the interior. The warm wood and the structural form of the facades refer to the local architecture, including the traditional roofs of Brunswick. The new volume does not exceed the historic parapet lines, so that it does not disturb the city skyline.
Karstadt department store now and in the future
Haus der Musik – the new life of Karstadt
The design brief is to make full use of the existing building structure. The main grid and communication core will be retained, avoiding the emissions associated with demolition. The new concert hall will be made of lightweight steel and timber construction, and the installation of prefabricated CLT elements is expected to reduce construction time and also reduce emissions. The building will additionally benefit from district heating, photovoltaic panels, passive cooling strategies and intelligent ventilation. Water-saving systems and decentralised heating, meanwhile, are designed to reduce energy consumption.
According to the competition jury, the winning proposal by the ADEPT studio successfully combines the preservation of the idea of an existing block with its transformation and innovative interpretation. Although the concept may seem unobvious, it was deemed to be apt and convincing. The Haus der Musik has the potential to become a new icon of Brunswick.
Design: ADEPT
Visualisations: Aesthetica Studio
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