The Salzburg Festival announced that construction will begin in early September for the Festival Centre on Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz.

Designed by the architectural firm Marte.Marte, this project will give the Festival District a place of encounter for the citizens of Salzburg and art lovers from around the world a place to gather for a myriad of events. The Salzburg Festival District is a central part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Salzburg. The project Festival District 2030 secures and develops the infrastructure which is so central to Salzburg’s cultural life for the future. In total, nearly 850,000 visitors attend the Salzburg Festival annually.

The new Festival Centre will welcome visitors with bronze gates that will be visible from afar, marking the transition to the magical world of the Salzburg Festival like mighty pillars. The Festival room will be made up of individual sculptural elements, and at the center, a glass pavilion.

“We are delighted at this unique project. The Festival Centre will benefit not only the citizens of Salzburg, but all visitors of this beautiful city,” said Festival President Kristina Hammer, in an official press release. “What I find particularly attractive is that we can give a totally new architectural face to a location that has been underused in the heart of our historical city centre, ensuring that the interest of coming generations in the Salzburg Festival is raised and everyone gains an insight into the Festival.

“On behalf of the Directorate and all the Festival’s employees, my heartfelt gratitude goes to Dr. Hans-Peter Wild, whose donation – the largest gift from an individual in the history of the Festival – has made this building possible,”

While maintaining Festival operations, the rebuilding will be completed in 2032, according to plans by the architectural firm Jabornegg & Pálffy. The construction project is financed by the Swiss entrepreneur Dr. Hans-Peter Wild, who supports the undertaking with up to 12 million Euros.