Theater in the Palace

'Theater in the Palace' serves the theater institute that is part of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. Originally, the building served as a stable and garage for the needs of the neighboring Meran Palace, which today is also used by the University of Music and Performing Arts. Together with the palace, it creates a square that is the center of a small campus, from which the music hall MuMuTh connects in the northern part.
The building of the theater institute was renovated and further expanded with a generously designed entrance area. In addition to the repaired roof, it has gained a newly protruding facade that gives the entire structure a remarkable appearance and simultaneously serves to shade the glass foyer. The outer shell, which the authors refer to as a “canopy,” is made of gold-colored embossed aluminum sheets. The newly added entrance area also functions as a student zone for social gatherings. A total of an additional 1800 m² of floor space was created. During the reconstruction and expansion of the theater, a complete redesign of the square between the theater and the palace also took place, involving the regional office, conservationists, and the university.