Beethovenhalle
Beyond classical music concerts, the hall is utilised for various events, including carnivals, exhibitions, parties, congresses, celebrations, and conventions such as AnimagiC.
It features outdoor facilities such as a parking lot in the northwestern section and a green area with trees designed by the Bonn landscape architect, Heinrich Raderschall.
The building itself has become an iconic feature of the cityscape, thanks to its elevated location and unique architecture, highlighted by a distinctive green dome that can be seen from afar.
Located on private property of the Räss' Garden, next to the Franciscan Church, it was designed and built by a team of 14 master craftsmen from Bonn, under the direction of the Köln Dom builder Ernst Friedrich Zwirner and architect Vincenz Statz.
In commemoration of the centennial celebration of renowned composer Ludwig van Beethoven's birth, a new hall was constructed on Vierecksplatz in Brückenstraße, now known as Berliner Freiheit 20-24.
However, it was not solely dedicated to promoting classical music, as it also hosted a wide range of events including poetry readings, boxing matches, and agricultural exhibitions.
In 1938, a marble bust of Beethoven, crafted by renowned artist Richard Lange and donated by Wilhelm Frick, the Reich Interior Minister, was unveiled.
On June 10, 1950, the Bonner Rundschau helped raise money by displaying a wooden replica of the Bonn Bridge Man on Münsterplatz, accepting donations in exchange for viewing.
Additionally, the Beethoven Bonn Donors' Association played a crucial role in supporting the construction of the new hall from 1951 onward.
Numerous support campaigns took place in following years, attracting the participation of prominent artists, such as Elly Ney and Andor Foldes.
After careful consideration, on January 19,1952, the city council's building committee recommended the new hall be built on the site of destroyed university clinics at the northern edge of the old town.
This decision was followed by the laying of the foundation stone for the 1,402 seater venue on March 16, 1956, a ceremonial event attended by then Federal President of Germany Theodor Heuss.
In a certificate signed by Heuss for the foundation stone laying, the mayor of Bonn, Peter Maria Busen, and members of the city council expressed their desire for the new hall to become "an international centre for the cultivation of Beethovian music".
Notable figures in attendance included the Federal President Theodor Heuss, Minister of Culture for North-Rhine Westfalia,, Wener Schütz, and Mayor Wilhelm Daniels who gave speeches during the event.
The Beethovenhalle building complex is a unique architectural construction consisting of a series of irregularly shaped cubes with varying roof pitches.
As part of the renovation, a wooden structure was installed under the roof to address the water damage, which slightly altered the height of the eaves.
However, in 2007, a storm caused further damage to the roof, resulting in the middle step, or the center of the dome, being partially covered with a temporary material that does not match the surrounding aesthetics.
The components of the complex are separated from each other and subordinate to the dome, which governs the overall organisation of the space and the asymmetrical non-axial interior floor plan.
