General renovation of the Theo-Pabst-Building
Today, after almost sixty years, the Kunsthalle continues to serve its changing needs. However, the technical and structural elements of the building no longer meet the energy requirements and necessities of modern exhibition technology. As a result, the building is undergoing a careful renovation, which began in 2014. The goal is not only to preserve an architectural monument for generations to come but also to offer an attractive program in a hospitable environment. The construction work should have as little impact on the usability of the building as possible.
General renovation of the Kunsthalle Darmstadt 2014-2017
Many thanks go to our donators und sponsors!
Donations and grants until the 17.01.20161.241.355,75 €
Stadt Darmstadt
NATURpur Institut für Klima- und Umweltschutz
Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz
Land Hessen – Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst
Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien
Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Hessen
Martin Brackelsberg Stiftung
Gisa und Hans-Joachim Sander
Jan Sombroek
H. Ludendorff GmbH
H.J.L.
Ruth Wagner
Hermann Kleinstück
Hilmar Kopper
Arie van Selm
Jürgen Rittmansperger
Evonik Industries AG
funktion
Christian Gropper
Hanna Paulmann
Rotary Club Darmstadt-Kranichstein
Geburtstag Heinz-Cochlovius
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schreckenbach
Radenko Milak
Dr. Eberhard und Heidi Sinnecker
N.N.
Kinopolis
Vera Röhm
Alois M. Schader und Christine Schader
Dagmar und Mathias Metzger
Dr. Ursula Blaum
Enis Ersü
Lions Club Darmstadt
Metzger und Kollegen GbR
Rolf Poth und Waltraud Poth
Wagner
Harald und Elke Kraus
Dr. Klaus und Donata von Lindeiner
Linn
Dierk und Ursula Molter
Volksbank Darmstadt
Volksbank Südhessen
Dr. J. und Chr. Aue
Dr. Karl-Heinz Emmerich
Astrid Fischer
Dr. Ulrich und Monika Manstein
Dr. Volker Merx
Dr. Jens und Margret Müller
Ulrich Schaller
Rosemarie Schöffler
Burkhard und Elke Sinnecker
Prof. Dr. Paul und Mechthild Theimert
Dr. Ing. Wolfgang Tischbirek
E. W.
Günter Werner
Dr. Reinhard Kienzler und Helga Wieser
N.N.
Eberhard und Betty Reiniger
Heinz und Ingrid Kern
Eirich
Dieter Heerstrass
Christel Kirchner
Martin und Lore Fink
Dr. Gabriele Gemmer
Jörg Gemmer
Hieronymus
H. Kabull und H. Schäfer
Jürgen und Christel Kirchner
Ernst und Erika Maurer
Dieter und Maria Rehner
Dr. Jörg Spörle
Dr. Karl und Irmgard Süßenberger
Ulrich P. Neukirchen
G. und E. Zimbehl
Hans-Joachim Becker
Original tiles of the founding year 1957
Working in close consultation with conservationists, the aim of the renovation is to preserve the original architecture with its design elements and materials.
© Kunsthalle Darmstadt / Photo: Anke Müllerklein, 2015
The glass facade of the entrance hall
The glass facade and bordering floor tiles, which represent the idea of an inviting transparency between interior and exterior, are to be restored.
© Kunsthalle Darmstadt / Photo: Anke Müllerklein, 2015
Elements of the facade
Deteriorating window elements and high energy losses make the replacement of the window facades on the building’s south side necessary. The rest of the window elements are original and will be restored and equipped with new glazing matching the original profile. In addition, ceramic wall tiles will be updated.
© Kunsthalle Darmstadt / Photo: Anke Müllerklein, 2015
The large hall with its daylight illumination
The large exhibition hall is characterized by its daylight illumination through skylights consisting of a double-glazed gable roof and a plexiglass flat ceiling. The renovation of the ceiling and the skylight over the main hall in 2014 was funded by the city of Darmstadt, the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Hessen, the Brackelsberg Foundation, and many private donors, mainly from the membership of the association.
© Kunsthalle Darmstadt / Photo: Anke Müllerklein, 2015
The final construction measures
The technology of the heating system, which was partly built in 1957, has to be brought up-to-date for current electrical and exhibition technologies, as well as be adaptable to future requirements. All of this is intended to save energy costs as well as to meet the needs of future exhibitions and diverse events. By the end of 2017 the forecourt should also be redesigned and perceived as an effective urban element on the Rheinstraße.
© Photo: Nikolaus Heiss
Future transformation of the forecourt
After completion of the refurbishment, the landscaping, matching the new appearance of the Kunsthalle, will become more attractive and act as a stimulus for the surrounding city. On the initiative of the Kunstverein and the recommendation of an independent advisory board, a competition among five participants was held together with the Wissenschaftsstadt Darmstadt. The process was accompanied by several public events. The Büro-Mann-Landschaftsarchitektur from Fulda was awarded first prize. They propose to remove the fence and integrate the Kunsthalle into its urban environment. In further planning steps, the green areas of the parks will be upgraded with areas for socializing.
© Simulation: Büromann Landschaftsarchitektur Fulda
