The city of Düsseldorf has opened a comprehensive public exhibition featuring all submitted architectural designs for its planned new opera house, including the four award-winning proposals that were officially announced last Thursday. The exhibition, which launched Tuesday afternoon in a downtown showroom, aims to give interested citizens the opportunity to form their own opinions about the ambitious project that represents the largest construction undertaking in Düsseldorf's upcoming years.
The exhibition space, located in a former retail store on Oststraße, displays not only the professional architectural submissions but also entries from a children's and youth architecture competition titled "Build Your Music School Library Opera House of the Future." This marks the first time that the opera house design proposals have been made available for public viewing. The showroom operates weekdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from noon to 8 p.m., remaining open through December 7.
Early visitors to the exhibition expressed visible admiration for the winning design that claimed first place. Barbara Lohkamp, one of the first attendees, praised the proposal as "a good solution" that "will transform the entire area, which hasn't been among Düsseldorf's most attractive districts until now." Her positive reaction reflects the potential impact the new opera house could have on urban revitalization in the chosen location.
However, the winning designs have generated considerable controversy since their official presentation. The Left Party faction in the city council has strongly criticized the first-place design, going so far as to label it an "architectural sin." This harsh assessment highlights the polarized opinions that have emerged from Düsseldorf's political establishment and broader community regarding the proposed designs.
The architects behind the winning proposal, Jette Hopp and Kjetil Thorsen from the Oslo-based firm Snøhetta, naturally disagree with such criticism. Speaking at the exhibition's opening, Thorsen emphasized the project's urban planning potential, stating, "Here we finally have the opportunity for urban repair." His colleague Hopp added that "it is a very compact building that will change the city's image and set a new focal point," arguing that the site offers much more potential than initially apparent.
Despite the jury's unanimous selection of a clear winner, city officials are committed to continuing citizen participation in this major infrastructure project. Cultural Affairs Director Miriam Koch from the Green Party announced plans to establish a "citizen council" in the new year. "We want to discuss with the city community how the new opera house should be designed and brought to life," Koch explained, emphasizing the administration's commitment to democratic input on the project's development.
The city has scheduled a major presentation of the designs at the current opera house for Thursday evening, with approximately one thousand citizens already registered to attend. This significant public interest demonstrates the community's engagement with the project, even amid the ongoing debates about the architectural choices.
Political opposition to the project remains strong, with the Left Party having demanded a public referendum on the opera house construction. However, the Düsseldorf city council rejected this proposal by a wide margin. The council is expected to make final decisions about further planning phases and the necessary funding allocations in the coming year, which will determine whether this controversial but potentially transformative project moves forward.
