Brückner & Brückner Architekten
Harmony – from convent to Hammelburg Music Academy
best architects 21
education buildings
Place
Hammelburg, Germany
Studio
Photos
mju-fotografie
Description
In
2015, the Bavarian Music Academy acquired the listed historic convent in Hammelburg.
New life could finally be breathed into the old walls. A wonderful act of
providence. A convent becomes an academy of music. The
aim of our architecture was to preserve the spirit of the building, the simple
convent atmosphere, but also to create open spaces for what was new: a space
for communication and inspiration for the musicians; a living, open house of
music. At
the heart of the convent are the former cloisters and cloistered garden. We
have opened up the walls and covered the space with a glass roof. The result is
a large hall for meals, meetings, dances, music and communication – a pulsating hub, but
also a multifunctional, acoustically optimised central room with blackout
facilities for concerts, conferences or parties. There is life and music
everywhere. An
open-air hall – more
of an outdoor than an indoor space – offering glimpses, vistas, views. We have continued the
cloister concept on the first floor. Views reach right up to the sky. An
interplay of light and shadow – by day and by night. Around and above it the sound studio
and the practice rooms, both large and small with two special ones in the
roofspace. These
rooms enter into a unique dialogue. One makes it possible to experience the
historic roof truss. The other is its contemporary counterpart. In
the south wing, the historic convent cells have been turned into guest rooms,
to provide space for repose and reflection. The
simplicity of convent life and natural, sustainable materials dominate our
concept: natural stone, oak, lime plaster and light colours.