General refurbishment, remodelling and extension of an iconic institution – Berlin’s oldest and most famous opera house
When it was constructed, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden was the first free-standing opera house in Germany and the largest opera building in Europe. Built between 1741 and 1743 from plans drawn up by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff, the building formed part of the Forum Fridericianum. In the course of its 250-year history, the Staatsoper has been rebuilt several times. In 1843, following a performance, the building’s interior was gutted by fire and was rebuilt while preserving its external appearance. The opera house survived the Second World War, but was badly damaged. The architect Richard Paulick, who was commissioned to redesign and rebuild the opera house, was inspired by the original historical designs from Knobelsdorff and those of other Friderician buildings. The Paulick Saal, which bears the architect’s name, was earmarked for preservation during the current general refurbishment. The architectural office HG Merz, Berlin – Stuttgart was commissioned and BAL was involved from the outset, providing all project management services until 2017.
