The future children's and youth theater in the zoo community center is to be provided with an extension made of wood, glass and steel on the side of the zoo and a large terrace that can also be used as an open-air stage.

This is what the winning design of the architectural competition by Ortner & Ortner Baukunst from Berlin envisages.

A total of 17 architectural firms from Germany and abroad took part in the restricted competition, for which there was a pre-selection process.

Eva-Maria Magel

Head of culture editor Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

  • Follow I follow

    With the competition decision, “a big step towards the realization” of the children's and youth theater was taken, said Ina Hartwig (SPD), head of the department of culture, when presenting the designs, all of which were of high quality.

    She is "very happy that the new coalition has committed to the project".

    The detailed specifications of the competition required, among other things, a theater hall that can be divided into two rooms.

    The front view of the Zoogesellschafthaus is retained in all of the designs; it is a listed building.

    A roof structure is added that existed before the destruction in World War II.

    The Rémond Theater will go into the renovation according to the plans.

    The image of a diverse society

    The opening of the building, especially towards the zoo, and the “excellent spatial arrangement”, according to Hartwig, speak for the winning design, which technically, spatially and aesthetically fulfills what is expected of the future theater. The building is suitable to depict the "diversity of society in the possibilities of the house". The zoo society house will be returned to the city. This will also create one of the main pillars for the future of the zoo.

    A jury made up of architects, theater professionals, politicians and cultural workers, including the independent theater scene, represented by the Paradiesvogel association, chaired by the architect Anett-Maud Joppien from the local office of Dietz-Joppien Architects, selected the top three: After Ortner & Ortner are as The second prize went to the Hascher Jehle Assoziierte from Berlin and the third to the karlundp Gesellschaft von Architekten, Munich.

    They receive 87,500, 52,500 and 35,000 euros in prize money.

    Comprehensive renovations

    When the necessary improvements to the winning design have been made in the next few weeks, in particular the glass facade and sun protection have been mentioned, work on the construction and financing template should begin. Sigrid Eichler, acting head of the Office for Construction and Real Estate and member of the jury, expects a quarter of a year for renegotiations on the draft, in two years the template could be developed and approved.

    The winning design provides for the dismantling of all elements of the first floor, in addition to the modular hall there will be two rehearsal stages, plus workshop and meeting rooms, in addition to the technically necessary rooms. The opening to the east as a “garden house” also gives the zoo school its own open space. Zoo administration and zoo school should continue to be located in the building. Brigitte Dethier explained that it was also a matter of making it possible to separate the paths. The founding director of the Stuttgarter Junge Ensemble and chairwoman of Assitej Germany witnessed a renovation of the existing building herself and accompanied the planning phase of the new theater. The functionality and all possibilities to offer art and culture today and in the future for children and young people, including an open space,jury member Dethier said that the pandemic had shown its necessity. "The project is politically wanted, culturally necessary, technically feasible and financially feasible," said Hartwig. "It would be irresponsible not to take the chance."

    The designs can be seen from July 25th in the foyer of the Zoogesellschafthaus, Alfred-Brehm-Platz 16, Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.