As part of the “Future Opera” strategic planning programme, the Zurich Opera House is planning an extension to the operations building adjacent to the original structure (the 1984 extension designed by Claude Paillard), commonly known as the “Fleischkäse”. An interdisciplinary planning team, led by BHSF, was commissioned by the Canton of Zurich’s Building Department to conduct a feasibility study.
The feasibility study focused on analyzing the existing structure of the 1984 extension, assessing its potential for preservation and transformation as part of a new extension that would meet the future spatial and technical needs of the opera house. The existing structure of the 1984 extension is characterised by a complex layering of rooms and walls. While the walls are primarily load-bearing, they are often not aligned vertically across multiple storeys. Additionally, the multi-layered topography of the ceilings features varying height differences between levels.
Based on the study, decision-making criteria and recommendations for action were developed to address the question of whether to continue construction with the existing extension in a future architectural competition—whether this should be required, prohibited, or optionally permitted.
The analysis covers various factors, including spatial organization and flexibility, accessibility, ecological impact, financial and scheduling dependencies, as well as risks associated with the building site. A partial preservation scenario, based on the formulated findings and recommendations, was further developed in the form of a preliminary design.
Opera House Zurich AG is making the results and final report of the study publicly available on its “Future Opera” website.
