RenovationHellerau Theatre

Hellerau Theatre

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LOCATION
Dresden, Germany
TYPE
Renovation
SERVICES
Restoration planning, heritage conservation surveys, securing funding

Hellerau Theatre – The foundations for a revival

CONCEPT

Even before the founding of atelier4d, the future partners succeeded in securing support from the Getty Foundation for the Festival Theatre. The grant of USD 250,000, awarded in 1995, provided a decisive impulse for the rescue of the building and enabled the commencement of urgently needed stabilization and restoration measures. In 1996, the Festival Theatre was included in the World Monuments Watch, recognizing it as an endangered cultural landmark of international significance. Our services included historical research, condition assessments, and heritage conservation studies, the investigation of historic building materials, the development of an overall restoration strategy, and the planning and implementation of initial stabilization and rehabilitation measures. As public funding opportunities were limited at the time, the acquisition of private funding also formed part of our scope of work. Designed by Heinrich Tessenow and completed in 1911, the Festival Theatre is regarded as one of the birthplaces of architectural modernism and modern dance. Following its early cultural prominence, the complex was used for military purposes for several decades. Numerous alterations, additions, and deteriorations had significantly transformed the building and obscured its original character. In close collaboration with the heritage authorities, we developed a conservation strategy that went beyond simply restoring the building to its 1911 condition. Later historical layers were understood as part of the site's complex history and were consciously integrated into the concept. As a result, the Soviet-era murals in the side stairwells and a stained-glass artwork dating from the period of Soviet use were preserved. The investigation of historic materials provided the basis for their accurate restoration. Non-historic additions that could not be preserved were removed, the main roof and the two secondary roofs were repaired, and the façades together with the original entrance sequence, including the portal, ceremonial staircase, and forecourt, were reconstructed. Additional works included the restoration of the staircases in the side wings and the reinstatement of the two rehearsal rooms on the upper floor. Particular attention was given to historic details. Through a private collector, we were able to locate an original light fixture from the stairwells. Based on this model, the fixtures were faithfully reproduced in a traditional glassworks that was still in operation. The stair railings were likewise reconstructed according to Heinrich Tessenow's original design. In this way, key elements of the original architecture were recovered without erasing the traces of the building's later history. The Getty Foundation grant of USD 250,000 awarded in 1995 provided a decisive impetus for the rescue of the building. In 1996, the Festival Theatre was added to the World Monuments Watch, acknowledging its status as an endangered cultural monument of international importance. Our work through 2001 laid the foundation for the comprehensive restoration and further development of the ensemble that followed the subsequent competition process. Today, HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts has once again become an internationally renowned venue for contemporary dance, music, theatre, and interdisciplinary arts. The project embodies an approach that continues to shape our work today: understanding existing buildings in depth, respecting their history, and developing sustainable solutions for their future through careful analysis and thoughtful design.

Sanierung

PROJECT DATA

ClientFestspielhaus Hellerau gGmbH
Getty Grant1995
World Monuments Watch1996
Planning and refurbishment work1996 - 2001
ServicesRestoration planning, heritage conservation surveys, securing funding
SpecialFoundation for the subsequent comprehensive refurbishment
Structural engineeringKröning und Schröter Ingenieurpartnerschaft mbB
Construction managementFietz+Hahn GmbH Architekten Stadtplaner Ingenieure, Dresden

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Our work

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Our services

€800M
Project scope of our largest ongoing project
International Experience
Projects in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and China
2013
QM-certified in accordance with the ‘Planer am Bau’ scheme; TÜV Rheinland certificate registration no.: 01 355 000001/096
2024
EcoVadis Sustainability Rating, DEC 2025 in Silver

From the feasibility study through to detailed design and tendering, we support complex projects with an interdisciplinary team of architects and engineers.

Sustainability starts with Design

How sustainable a building will be is decided in its first design phases. Sustainability is therefore not an additional requirement for us but part of good architecture: we take the whole life cycle into our decisions and develop durable, adaptable solutions that spare resources and keep CO₂ emissions as low as possible.

Ecological, economic and social requirements are drawn together with the specialist disciplines involved into one integrated concept.

What we consider

Certification creates transparency

Not every sustainable building needs a certificate. Where one is wanted or required, we build its criteria into the design early and coordinate the evidence. Sustainability then becomes measurable, comparable and independently verifiable.

Depending on the project and the system, we take on the auditor or assessor services or guide clients and design teams through the whole process:

The standard we set ourselves

Sustainability shapes not only our projects but also the way we operate as a company. We have EcoVadis independently assess our performance across environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement — in November 2025 we were awarded the EcoVadis silver medal.

"Planning sustainably means translating responsibility into concrete decisions — traceable, deliverable, and of lasting benefit to clients, to the people who use the buildings and to the built environment."

Precision through conviction

  • Balanced — Gender equality
  • 7 Years — Average tenure
  • 9 — Nationalities
  • 13 Years — Average experience
Our story
1996Milestone

Founded in Berlin

Bettina Dittemer and Fabian Zimmermann found atelier 4d in Berlin, for architecture of substance with a particular focus on infrastructure and on urban planning around railway stations.

Age structure
< 29 years10%
30 – 3950%
40 – 5430%
> 5510%

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Are you interested in exciting major projects and do you enjoy working in a great, international team? Then take a look at our current job openings – maybe there's something just right for you! No suitable position advertised at the moment? No problem – we are always happy to receive your speculative application including portfolio.

Why atelier 4d?

In short: because we stand for diversity, tolerance, and a healthy work environment. This includes flexible, mobile working and a strong, supportive team. We support our employees in a targeted manner – for example, by helping them enter the Chamber of Architects. We also offer you stability and perspectives through long-term, future-oriented projects.

Current Openings

Currently no positions available but we are always looking for talented and motivated individuals. Please feel free to send your speculative application!

Your Contact Person

Sandra Röhr
atelier 4d Planungs GmbH
Stuttgarter Platz 16, 10627 Berlin
E-Mail:bewerbungbot-protection-active [at] atelier4d-architekten.de

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