Factbox Haus der Musik

From retail to resonance: ADEPT wins major cultural transformation in Germany

Rather than demolish the existing structure, the winning proposal is based on adaptive reuse principles. The load-bearing structure and architectural rhythm of the original building are retained and activated. A new, finely tuned concert hall is positioned atop the existing volume, while music school programs are accessible directly from street level. From a place of commerce to a place of culture, the design represents a bold urban transformation rooted in continuity.

“The Haus der Musik is a dream project – not just because of its scale, but because it allows us to bring together everything we care about: transformation, sustainability, as well as social and urban social value,” says Martin Krogh, founding partner at ADEPT. “This is the largest project in our studio’s history, and undoubtedly one of the most meaningful.”

The transformation is organized around a “Third Place” – that undefined and mostly unprogrammed space between functions that forms a huge potential for new identity growing from the local community. It is a layered social terrain of performance, education, and gathering connecting arrival, music school and concert hall. The music school is embedded into the retained structure, creating a lively, all-day rhythm of learning, rehearsing, and informal exchange. Below it, the Klangkeller offers a raw and flexible stage for experimental sounds and underground scenes.

The new concert hall, located in the upper levels of the building to preserve as much of the existing structure as possible, is designed as a classic shoebox typology with careful attention to acoustic clarity and spatial intimacy. Sound-reflective wall and ceiling panels diffuse sound evenly throughout the space while adjustable ceiling elements allow for custom tuning depending on the performance setting, including organ music and amplified events. Audience members experience enveloping sound and direct sightlines from both the main floor and elevated balconies. The hall is flanked by backstage areas and rehearsal rooms that ensure a seamless transition between preparation and performance. A 270-degree panoramic terrace wraps around the foyer, offering public views over the city and reinforcing the concert hall as a civic venue.

‘With equal measures of caution and courage, the winning proposal transforms the existing building through adaptive reuse into an important component for Braunschweig’s city centre, as well as for the city’s musical landscape’, the jury states and continues: ‘The difficult balancing act between preservation, transformation and innovation has been convincingly achieved. Even if the interpretation and conceptual reuse may seem surprising at first glance, the contextual integration is comprehensible, sensitive and convincing.’

Urban Presence: A Cultural Link Within the Historic City

Situated along one of Braunschweig’s central pedestrian routes, the Haus der Musik forms a vital urban link between two key public squares: Altstadtmarkt and Kohlmarkt. By reactivating the ground level with a fully transparent façade and opening up to the city via generous terraces and foyers, the building establishes a new cultural node in the urban fabric. It doesn’t merely occupy its plot – it reaches into the city, creating sightlines, passageways, and places to gather. The design respects the scale and rhythm of its historical surroundings, while introducing a fresh public energy that strengthens the civic life of the old town. The building’s stepped form and articulated façade allow it to merge with Braunschweig’s urban silhouette while subtly signaling its new role as a destination for music and community.

Interpreting the Past in a Contemporary Language

A key architectural gesture is the redesign of the facade as a reinterpretation of the existing building, respecting the historic context and its characteristic buildings to form a new identity. The new facade preserves the modular rhythm of the original but reworks it as a sculptural, tactile envelope. The cascading elements generate a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, opening views into the building’s activities. The transparent ground floor dissolves boundaries between interior and city, inviting the public in.

Materiality plays a central role in shaping atmosphere and identity: warm timber interiors frame the building’s communal core, while the structured facade resonates with Braunschweig’s traditional roofscapes. The new volume respectfully steps back from the historic cornice lines, preserving key sightlines and harmonizing with the surrounding urban fabric.

Building on What Already Exists

Sustainability in this project begins with what’s already there. The structural grid and core of the Karstadt building are preserved and reused, avoiding demolition and the associated carbon impact. A lightweight steel and timber concert hall is added above, with minimal intervention to the existing foundations. Prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) components allow for quick and low-emission assembly.

The building operates with high energy efficiency, using Braunschweig’s low-emission district heating network and integrating rooftop photovoltaics. Smart ventilation and passive cooling strategies ensure comfort while minimizing energy use. Water-saving fixtures and decentralized heating systems further reduce demand.

The result is not only a landmark for music and culture – but a demonstration of how architecture can be both ambitious and responsible, rooted in the past and ready for the future.