haus der music: a new venue for braunschweig, germany
Haus der Musik, a competition-winning entry by ADEPT by is set to transform the bones of an existing Karstadt warehouse in in Braunschweig, Germany. The concept preserves the building’s load-bearing structure and spatial rhythm, shifting its purpose from retail to resonance and introducing a sculptural new facade. ADEPT has used the building’s existing framework as a canvas for a concert hall and music school, creating what Martin Krogh, founding partner, calls ‘a dream project — not just because of its scale, but because it allows us to bring together everything we care about: transformation, sustainability, as well as social and urban social value.’
The project centers around what the architects describe as a ‘third place’ — a porous, hybrid space that binds the music school, performance areas, and informal gathering zones. This non-linear terrain opens opportunities for spontaneous interaction and shared ownership. ‘It’s a space that grows identity from within,’ says Krogh, underscoring the studio’s belief in socially driven architecture.
ADEPT will transform a former warehouse in Braunschweig into a cultural venue | images © Aesthetica Studio
adept plans for Sound Above and Life Below
With its Haus der Musik, the architects at ADEPT situates the concert hall along the building’s upper levels, allowing the preserved lower structure to anchor the music school and flexible event spaces like the Klangkeller. Designed in the shoebox tradition, the hall is outfitted with sound-reflective surfaces and dynamic ceiling elements that adjust acoustics to suit a range of performances. From balcony to floor, the experience is acoustically intimate and spatially direct, supported by adjacent rehearsal rooms and a panoramic terrace that connects concertgoers to the cityscape.
The upcoming project occupies a strategic site in Braunschweig, bridging the Altstadtmarkt and Kohlmarkt squares. By opening the ground level with transparent facades and terraces, the building becomes a point of entry, not only to music but to civic life. Its stepped massing and softened outline allow it to participate in the historical city’s silhouette while introducing new public rhythms.
The jury says: ‘The winning proposal transforms the existing building through adaptive reuse into an important component for Braunschweig’s city centre, as well as for the city’s musical landscape.’
the project preserves the original structure while bringing new public and performance spaces
layers of light and modular texture
The proposal reinterprets the original building’s facade into a layered expression of light and modular texture. Maintaining the structural cadence of the old Karstadt store, the design transforms it with sculptural depth and tactile detail. This gesture aligns the building with Braunschweig’s historic material palette while giving it a contemporary public identity. The interplay of solids and voids gestures inward and outward, animating both street and interior.
Timber is adopted for the interiors, inviting warmth into a space historically defined by commerce. The new volume atop the building sets back from the original cornice line, letting light reach the street and maintaining visual continuity with neighboring buildings. Material choices balance resilience with resonance, merging tactile appeal with performance-oriented design.
ADEPT treats the existing building as a resource, conserving its core structure and foundations. A new concert hall in steel and timber is placed with surgical care above the retained elements. CLT components accelerate construction while reducing emissions, and minimal site intervention further limits environmental impact.
an intimate concert hall is positioned on the upper levels and designed with acoustic precision
a sculptural new facade reinterprets the original rhythm | existing structure
project info:
name: Haus Der Musik (House of Music)
architect: ADEPT | @adeptarchitects
location: Braunschweig, Germany
area: 15,000 square meters + 3,000 square meters underground
visualizations: © Aesthetica Studio | @aesthetica_studio
client: Friedrich Georg Knapp w. Stadt Braunschweig
engineers: Assmann Beraten und Planen, Corall Ingenieure, Avissplan
collaborators: Assmann Beraten und Planen, Corall Ingenieure, Avissplan
team: Martin Krogh, Martin Laursen, Anders Lonka, Simon Poulsen, Tatyana Eneva, Athanasia Tatli, Tanja Jauernig, Philipp Macke, Guido Roth, Paul Lieser, Lilit Raudonat
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