The open-air stage adds a new accent to the historic palace park of Grafenegg. The stage roof unfolds as sculptural motif and rises up like the crown of a great tree between the existing treetops. The reflections in the metal surface create the feeling of a “cloud-capp’d tower”, the Wolkenturm.

Based on the fundamental acoustic principles of “what you see you hear”, affinities are explored between perspective and acoustic space. Earthworks and embankments have created artificial hills, into which stage and auditorium merge smoothly in topographical relief.

Ingenious planning of viewpoints and spatial sequences opens up a multi-stratified space. The Wolkenturm has the function of both stage and pavilion within the landscape garden.

2007

Architects
tnE Architects - Marie-Therese Harnoncourt-Fuchs, Ernst J. Fuchs, Paul Vabitsch; Claudia Cavallar, Jennie Enwall, Daniel Harrer, Waltraud Hoheneder, Marianna Milioni, Egon Niedertscheider, Hannes Oswald, Maja Ozvaldic

Structural engineering
Ingenieurteam GmbH Bergmeister, IT

HVAC planning
Christian Koppensteier, AT

Landscape planning
Land in Sicht, AT

Light design
Ploderer & Partner, AT

Acoustics
Müller-BBM GmbH, DE

Building-related physics
Wolfgang Hebenstreit, AT