
Stadttheater Baden (AT)
LOCATION:
Stadttheater Baden (AT)
ARCHITECTS:
Simlinger & Partner Architekten
MODEL:
Baden Seating
MORE INFO:
www.buehnebaden.at
VIDEO:
Located about 25km outside of Vienna, Baden is the closest escape. Known for its thermal springs where people flow to relax in the mineral baths and sweat in the saunas, over time, Baden has developed its own little bourgeoisie society: wealthy, provincial, and addicted to operetta. International successful artists have been coming to Baden even before the regular Summer visits of the Imperial Family under emperor Francis I. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, turns up here as do Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert and Johan Strauss. And Baden’s Stadttheater plays an important role in this; the provincial theatre is one of the oldest traditions in the Lower Austria region (dated 1716). Star architect Joseph Körnhausl is commissioned to create a new building and the theatre is inaugurated a year later securing the best and most famous artists come during the Summer visits of the Imperial Family.
By the beginning of the 20th century Körnhausl’s theatre is already 100 years old and represents a permanent fire hazard. A new theatre is needed and in 1909 the new theatre by Ferdinand Fellner is opened with a scene from Franz Grillparzer’s, King Ottokar, His Raise and Fall and the 2nd act of the Fledermaus by Johan Strauss. The same opening program is then played in all renovations taking part in 1929, 1939 and 1959. In 1979, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the city, a complete refurbishing was carried out both inside and outside.
Ascénder was the company selected for the renovation of the seats in 2017; a major plan focused on the interior of the auditorium where all fixed and loose seats were renovated.
A custom design chair was created from scratch following the design of the architect in charge of the refurbishing: curved standards made out of solid beech and assembled with cozy plywood back panels. We produced 7 types of different chairs considering seat centres, heights, slopes and loose solutions for boxes – a real challenge within a very limited time frame in order to ensure the opening programe of the theatre. In terms of finishes, all chairs were upholstered in a warm red velour matching the dark varnish used in the old chairs; then bespoke brass plates were designed for row and seat numbering.