The exterior of MUMUTH turns opaque by day

© Iwan Baan

The spiral construction creates a column free space troughout the whole building

© Christian Richters

At night, the theatre lights up and opens itself up to its surroundings and attracting visitors to the theatre.

© Iwan Baan

The red carpet staircase follows the curves of the concrete spiral and gives a theatrical feeling to the performance theatre.

© Christian Richters

The spiral connects the different spaces within the building.

© Iwan Baan

The custom designed acoustic panels were especially developed to meet the specific acoustical requirements of the music programme

© Iwan Baan

Floorplan of 2nd floor: Foyer and performance theatre

Floor plan of ground floor: Entrance lobby and multiple classrooms, dressing- and rehearsal rooms

The building for the faculty of Music and Performing Arts at the University of Graz (MUMUTH) is structured to combine a unit-based volume: the black box of the theatre; and a series of movement-based volumes: foyer and public circulation. The adaptable multipurpose auditorium can seat up to 450. The free-flowing space of the foyer is made possible by a spiralling constructive element that connects the entrance to the auditorium and to the music rooms above, thus welding together ‘with a twist’ the three levels of this side of the building. This twist forms a 3D interpretation of the repetitive pattern – executed in the muted tones of stage make-up – that is silk-screened onto the inner glass facades, which are in turn enveloped by a glittering mesh. This pattern is also employed on the acoustic panels in the theatre space, which were especially developed to meet the specific acoustical requirements of the widely varied musical styles performed in the building.