Location | Bahnhofstrasse, Lucerne |
Client | City of Lucerne |
COMMISSION | TWO STAGE Anonymus Project COMPETITION 2022, RANKING AMONG THE 12 FINALISTS |
Architects | GRABER & STEIGER ARCHITEKTEN |
Consultants | STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: ZPF Structure AG, PROJECT MANAGER: Perita AG, MECHANICAL ENGINEER: IPB Ingenieurbüro, ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: SCHERLER AG, BUILDING PHYSICIST: MEP AG |
The design is triggered by contemporary theater concepts and the unique context. As a vibrant, urban stage, the new theater building is situated in the "cultural axis" along the lake and Reuss banks, which extends from the Richard Wagner Museum via the KKL, the Jesuit Church, the Old University or the Natural History Museum to the St. Karl Church in the direction of Lucerne North. Also in the north-south direction, the axis from the Old Town via the Town Hall Stairs, the Reusssteg, the Buobenmatt Passage into the Neustadt is occupied by a new urban landmark. The theater acts as a distinctive intersection of highly pblic urban axis. The building can be passed through its very heart via an open passage that linkes it directly to the circulation net of the city. The permeable building becomes approachable, arises curiosity and invites everyone to enter at any time. The theater so to speak feels the pulse of the city and influences its rhythm. What is valid for the various venues and halls in terms of flexibility and wallability, distinguishes the building as a whole. The spatial organization of the new building is designed as a permeable setting that welcomes and fosters contemporary theater concepts. The expression of the building is not developed from pituresque images but directly from structural aspects of program and location.
'PoroCity - Enabling Structures by Graber & Steiger Architects' is a site-specific spatial installation that developed for the exhibition in Dhaka. At the venue of Kalakendra and the adjacent urban space, the installation explores the concept of "enabling structures" in different architectural and urban scales.
Porous structures can be a solid basis for welcoming places and unfold a permeable framework for lively social interactions and future-oriented transformations. Through a balanced character, built structures can be enablers for a resource-optimised, sustainable design of living spaces.
The ephemerally conceived exhibition provides a small insight into our works, which strive for permeable spatial structures that invite free appropriation by the users. The opportunity to present buildings and projects far away from their context of origin can stimulate a dialogue about specifically local, but also universal aspects of architectural structures. We can thus expect a critical examination of hitherto familiar design approaches, which can show us broader perspectives.
The scenographic setting of the installation is embedded in a circular concept of reusing the modular exhibition structure in the everyday life of Dhaka's micro-urbanism. Besides the visitors of the exhibition, every city dweller is invited to participate in the concept of "Enabling Structures" in the long run by reusing the micro-structures designed for the exhibition.
The exhibition is support by Swiss Cultural Council ProHelvetia.
8 - 29 May 2023
8 May 2023, 6:30 pm
Kalakendra Art Space, Lalmatia Dhaka