ENTREE THEATER

THE NEW COMEDY THEATER, A PROGRAMMATIC EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING THEATER OF BASEL, SWITZERLAND, INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, 1997.

our analysis of the task focused on four points of interest:

the role and significance of the existing theater
the meaning of the urban space
the interaction between urban space and theater
the interrelation of the old and new theater

the new theater should act as a facade, a filter and an urban landmark, because the existing theater provides profound cultural contributions to the cultural debate but has no architectural face to the city.

the filter function of our proposal emphasizes the social importance of theater events for society. people want to be in touch with the cultural spirit of the city, become one with it and be actors themselves for this moment of time. as you slowly filter from basel's urban place into the heart of the theater you experience and enjoy this very important moment of social interaction and personal redefinition.

the new theater represents the whole theater group to the city. it welcomes the approaching visitors. the old and new theater are connected by the existing foyer. its function is central to the dramaturgy of the whole ensemble, because after the addition of the new theater it is even more important as a social focus point and distributor.