Tempodrom

The Tempodrom (also referred to as Neues Tempodrom) is a multi-purpose event venue in Berlin.

Tempodrom
Neues Tempodrom
AddressMöckernstraße 10
10963 Berlin
Germany
LocationKreuzberg
Coordinates52°30′06″N 13°22′52″E
OwnerKPS-Gruppe
Capacity
  • 3,500 (Big Arena)
  • 400 (Small Arena)
Construction
Opened1 May 1980
Renovated1999–2001
Website
Venue Website
Building details
General information
Groundbreaking21 May 2000
Opened1 December 2001
Inaugurated8 December 2001
Relocated1985, 1999
Renovation costDM 35.8 million
($21.5 million in 2009 [1])
Renovating team
ArchitectGerkan, Marg and Partners
Structural engineerSchlaich Bergermann Partner
Civil engineerKrentel
Other designers

Founded by Irene Moessinger, it opened in 1980 next to the Berlin Wall on the west side of Potsdamer Platz, housed in a large circus tent. After several changes of location it is now housed in a permanent building in the Kreuzberg neighborhood.

History

Moessinger had recently become a nurse when she came into an 800,000 mark inheritance from her father; it was this bequest that she used to start the Tempodrom in a circus tent.[2] Her initial funds were quickly exhausted and the following year the Berlin Senate agreed to contribute funds to keep the operation going.

The original location attracted noise complaints, and in 1985 the Tempodrom moved to a site in the Tiergarten, where it remained until displaced by construction of the new German Chancellery. At this time a new construction of the current building was proposed, and the tents moved to a temporary site during construction. In May 1999, the venue moved to another temporary location near the Ostbahnhof.

Interior of main arena as seen during the 2012 German Masters snooker tournament

In 2001, a permanent venue was finally constructed on the site of the old Anhalter Bahnhof, whose war-damaged ruins had been demolished in 1960. While a small section of the old station façade was retained (and is still standing), the entire train shed was removed, leaving a large open area. The new Tempodrom was erected in the center of this area, with a playing field lying between it and the façade remnant, and a wooded area extending in the other direction towards the Landwehr Canal. The firm of Von Garkan, Marg und Partner (GMP) was retained to design the new building. The basic floor plan is square, accommodating three performance spaces as well as a bistro and various offices and restrooms, underneath a wooden-floored terrace which hosts a beer garden in season.[3] The two arenas are both circular, with the larger, centrally located space covered by a 37 metres (121 ft) steel and concrete panel roof intended to echo the form of the tents of the original site. This space can accommodate 3,500 patrons; the smaller arena seats 400. The third space is the "Liquidrom", a thermal bath/spa establishment featuring a 43 feet (13 m) diameter salt water bath fitted with underwater speakers to provide a multi-sensory spa experience, three saunas at temperatures of 55, 80 and 90 degrees Celsius, a steam bath room along with various massage services.[4] The 135,000 square foot (12,500 m2) building was completed in 2001 at a cost of nearly $36 million, over twice the original budget.[5] Scandal over the overruns led to the resignation of State Senator Peter Strieder, who was in charge of the Urban Development department.

The Tempodrom corporation went into bankruptcy in 2005 and was operated by a receiver, with Moessinger retiring as director. She and former Director Norbert Waehl were tried for embezzlement but were acquitted in 2008.[6] The Tempodrom is now operated by the Bremer KPS Group, who took over in April 2010 in the face of a foreclosure threat by Landesbank Berlin.

Tempodrom continues in operation and hosts a wide variety of events.

Notable performers

Notable events
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References
  1. German inflation numbers based on data available from Deutsches Statistisches Bundesamt.
  2. Özcerkes, Manuel (24 July 1999). "Irene Moessinger, Chefin des Tempodrom". Berliner Zeitung. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  3. "Neues Tempodrom". GMP. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  4. Henry, Robert D.; Taylor, Julie D. (2005). Spa: The Sensuous Experience. Mulgrave, Victoria: Images Publishing Group. p. 31. ISBN 9781920744403.
  5. Hart, Sara (October 2003). "Neues Tempodrom: Berlin, Germany". Architectural Record: 126–129.
  6. Thomsen, Jan (19 January 2008). "Die Gründer des Kulturhauses, Irene Moessinger und Norbert Waehl, sind "erwiesen unschuldig" Tempodrom-Affäre endet mit Freisprüchen". Berliner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  • Media related to Tempodrom at Wikimedia Commons
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