Beethoven’s Birthday Venue

The German city of Bonn is planning to celebrate what would have been Beethoven’s 250th birthday by building a $90 million concert hall in his honour.

Photo: David Chipperfield Architects
rendering from David Chipperfield Architects. 

Although the new building is to be completed by 2019, the year before the composer would have turned 250, the final design for the concert hall has yet to be chosen.

Designing the Beethoven Festspielhaus became a competition for international architects and Bonn has only just announced the three finalists.

They are Berlin-based Kadawittfeldarchitektur, UK architect David Chipperfield, and Luxembourg-based Valentiny Hvp.

The building that will “anchor these momentous anniversary celebrations and help honor and celebrate Beethoven’s musical legacy” is being paid for by shipping giant DHL and the German government.