The cultural heart
of Lucerne
Lucerne
© KKL Luzern
Have you always wanted to feel like an opera star? Or dreamed of being on stage? Haven’t you always been curious to see where artists get ready for their performances? With Cosa, you can go on a unique tour of the impressive Culture and Convention Centre in Lucerne (or KKL Luzern for short), one the the premier venues in Switzerland. It’s the ideal chance to experience the amazing vision of star architect Jean Nouvel first hand.
Lucerne might be justly famous for its covered wooden bridges and muralled medieval houses but there’s more to the city than historic structures. I know because I lived in the city for years and almost every day walked past one strikingly modern building in a prime location on the waterfront. Its most prominent feature is the huge roof that covers the entire complex.
Floating roof
This massive roof is undeniably impressive, and not only because of its size – it measures 12,000 square metres and weighs over 2,500 tonnes. Simply incredible! Jean Nouvel said that he saw it as if a wing was hovering over both the building and Lake Lucerne, and I believe he was right. As you walk into the building, look above your head: the glistening rippling water of the lake is reflected in the 2000-plus tiles that line the underside of the vast aluminium roof.
Room with a view
The wow factor of the roof extends into the foyer, where it’s amplified by the water channels in the floor. Jean Nouvel originally planned a new concert hall that would project into the lake in the shape of a ship. However, this wasn’t feasible for ecological reasons as the building would have encroached on the lake bed. Nouvel revised his project. This led to the idea of letting the water flow into the building instead of building into the water. And that was probably the better choice as it always makes visitors’ jaws drop.
We met our guide in the panorama foyer, a space marked by its sleek lines and minimalist aesthetic, with vaulted wood panelling reminiscent of a cello case. Across from this elegant backdrop, a series of windows offer picturesque views, rather like scenes found on a postcard. During our tour, we learned about the building’s history, the vision of the architect and the outstanding acoustics but the highlight was definitely the concert hall.
Silent star
Silent star
The echo chamber is a large interconnected cavity that surrounds the concert hall in the upper tiers and is opened using electronically-controlled concrete doors. One of the most striking features for me was the absolute silence – both the ventilation and the hall’s lighting installations are inaudible during concerts. We were privileged to explore every corner of the hall, even going up on stage. As a grand finale, we visited the changing rooms and backstage arena, a rare glimpse of what it’s like getting ready for a performance in front of a big audience.
This private behind-the-scenes tour is the perfect prelude to enjoying a concert or show in this special cultural venue. Once you know the building’s secrets, it makes everything you see and hear even more special.
