On 11th September 2011 the Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Liederhalle has a special birthday. It is now 20 years ago that the Stuttgart Liederhalle received its present form: destroyed during the war, the monument was rebuilt during the 50s and has since been the scene of many major concerts and events.
In 1991 the architect Wolfgang Henning extended the main building, turning the Liederhalle into a unique culture and congress centre. Originally, the Liederhalle consisted of the Beethoven, Mozart and Silcher Hall; after the extension it was supplemented by the Hegel and Schiller hall. Though it has always been one of the leading concert halls in the world, the complex today stands for a successful symbiosis of culture, economics and science. The foundation for this idea was laid by architect Rolf Gutbrod, Henning’s foster father, in 1978. And even if 20 years passed until the conversion, the additional rooms were a great success. Each year there are more than 1,000 events in the five halls and 18 meeting rooms.
The Hegel hall is at the centre of the special anniversary: it offers space for 1,869 spectators and is a perfect example of the symbiosis: It is possible to hold both concerts and congresses in the premises.
Visually it impresses with its heptagonal ground plan, no wall runs parallel to another, and therefore the sound can spread diffusely and thus provide a special acoustic, whether as spoken word or through musical sounds. The exceptional building is complemented by a tent-shaped glass dome, which is separated from the room by a glass sail. It provides for an exclusive room capacity and natural light. In addition, the hall can be customized for the event using two separate galleries and a hydraulically adjustable stage and hall floor. For meetings and conferences, both interpreters' booths as well as large screen projectors and audio and video direction are available. This technical standard enthrals up to 630,000 visitors annually.
