Haus Der Musik Innsbruck

Prominently located in Innsbruck’s cultural center, this project was conceived for open cultural exchange across all ages and genres. The unifying element is music. The building’s simple volume belies extreme programmatic complexity as it houses multiple musical institutions, concert halls, administration, dining, a national music library, and outdoor terraces with views of Innsbruck and the Alps.

The architecture respects the historical neighboring buildings and at the same time creates a contemporary, communicative, democratic building that enriches the city of Innsbruck as a new cultural center. Its transparent base and the generous open design of the stage area blur the borders between interior and exterior and allow the outdoors to visually flow inside while the building’s interior functions — clearly organized for high visibility — pour out on the street engaging with pedestrians. The large concert hall, with its sweeping glass façade, becomes an open-air stage and the building’s entry plaza becomes a welcoming auditorium.

Transparency is taken to another level with the building’s glazed ceramic cladding, which shimmers with iridescent blacks and browns. Despite its homogeneous character, the changing lighting situations during day and night create exciting and lively effects. The ceramic lamellas are open and can be rotated by a maximum of 45 degrees, to provide shading and sun protection for the office areas.

Strengthening Innsbruck’s long musical heritage, this state-of-the-art building links past and future as it integrates daily life with popular and high culture.

Dietrich Untertrifaller Architects

Project Management: Peter Nussbaumer (D|u), Andreas Lehner (D|u), Johannes Alge And Ferdinand Reiter (Strolz)
Site Management: Malojer, Innsbruck
Structural Engineering: Toms, Vienna
Geotechnics: Teindl, Innsbruck
Building Services: Mikfey, Wien & Ortner, Innsbruck
Electronics: Brugger, Innsbruck
Light: Ragg, Innsbruck
Building Physics: Spektrum, Dornbirn
Facade: Gbd, Dornbirn
Fire Protection: Ibs, Innsbruck
Acoustics: Müller-bbm, Munich
Stage: Kottke, Bayreuth