Architektur­wettbewerb für Jugendliche

A new cultural center for the Canton of Zurich! One half of this future cultural complex will be the newly renovated historic opera house, which will remain exactly where and how it is. Next to it, however, a new building will rise — as large as the historic opera house. This is where rehearsing, crafting, and creating will take place in rehearsal rooms and workshops — but the building will also open its doors wide to everyone. From certain public areas, visitors will be able to look into the studios and watch how costumes, wigs, and props are made. Or they may sit in the stands of the ballet hall to watch training sessions and rehearsals, and eat and drink alongside artists in the public theater canteen. And importantly, there will be much more space for programs for children and young people, which are currently in high demand and always sell out. There will also be a new multifunctional stage, where very different music and dance performances than in the main opera house can be presented — even club nights or film marathons could take place here. The Bernhard Theater will also find its new home in this building.

But that’s not all: On the roof, there will be a spacious public terrace with stunning views of the lake and the Alps. In the new community space, people from all walks of life should feel at home — across 1,000 square meters. 1,000 square meters — that’s more than twice the size of a standard school gym — open every day from early morning until late at night, free of charge. This bright, cozy space with great design is essentially a living room for the city and a rainy-day alternative to Sechseläutenplatz. Your new favorite spot. Here you can meet friends, chill, knit, study, grab a coffee, be alone, play games, work, paint, or read. Here you can simply exist — without spending money, whether you're into opera or not.

And then, together with the historic opera house, the new building is intended to look so unique that people across the canton — and beyond — will talk about it and proudly show it to their guests.

This is how we imagine the future.

And what about you? Join the competition and show us what you dream of!

Before signing up, you just need to choose one of the three topic areas (interior design / public community space; terrace / outdoor space; transformation old–new) and indicate whether you’re participating alone, in a group, or with your class. Then you will have time to work on your project until 22 February 2026. You can find all the information on the website, and below you can download the registration form and get started right away!

Make sure to also sign up for this special newsletter — you will receive regular updates about everything related to the youth architecture competition and won’t miss a thing.

Download the registration form for individuals here.

Please print out the registration form, fill it in, have all required signatures added, and then scan and return it by email to:

zukunft@opernhaus.ch

or send it by post to:

Opernhaus Zürich AG
Zukunft Oper
Falkenstrasse 1
8008 Zurich
Switzerland

Thank you very much!

By the way: In a real architecture competition, many different experts work together. Some know a lot about floor plans, others about model-making, interior design, sustainability, or how people live well together. Nobody expects you to think of everything — choose one aspect and let your imagination run wild! We want to hear your very own ideas and wishes.

Questions? Email us anytime at zukunft@opernhaus.ch. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Dear Teacher, how wonderful to have you here!

We would be truly delighted if the youth architecture competition for the new Zurich cultural center found a place in your classroom. Sign up for this newsletter now to stay up to date at all times.

We have put together a dedicated resource page especially for you — a website with all the information relevant to educators. There you will find the registration form for the competition, teaching materials, curriculum links, ideas for implementing the project in and outside the classroom, links to interesting articles, websites and apps, as well as images, plans, and visualizations available for download. You can also now register for workshops and special guided tours!

Download the registration form for teachers here.

By the way: In our view, this building project can be explored in nearly every subject. Feel free to get in touch (zukunft@opernhaus.ch) if you would like specific ideas!

Für die jüngeren Wettbewerbsteilnehmer:innen (bis ca. 13 Jahre) existiert eine gedruckte Broschüre. Diese kannst du hier anschauen, hier kostenlos bestellen oder als PDF herunterladen – zur digitalen Nutzung oder zum Selbstausdrucken.

Für die älteren Jugendlichen haben wir die Inhalte der Broschüre als Website aufbereitet. Diese ist ausführlicher, etwas komplexer und ergänzt mit lesenswerten Artikeln, weiterführenden Links und Videos. 

Egal was du wählst, Website und Broschüre bereiten dich mit Hintergrundwissen und Anregungen ideal auf den Wettbewerb vor. Übrigens auch interessant für alle über 18!

The old opera house needs a complete renovation: new technical systems, new ventilation, new seats, finally barrier-free access, and much more. The last renovation was nearly 50 years ago! During construction, the opera house will be closed for around four years, and opera and ballet performances will take place at another venue in Zurich.

The pink building between the opera house and Lake Zurich — often called the “meatloaf” because of its color — unfortunately cannot simply be renovated. It currently houses rehearsal stages, ballet studios, choir room, workshops, dressing rooms, scenery storage, costume department, and offices of the opera house, and even the Bernhard Theater. But there is far too little space, and modern, safe working conditions are not possible. Adding floors or expanding the building is not feasible, so it must be demolished. In its place, a new building will be constructed — and this is an exciting opportunity! The new building is not only intended to benefit the opera house staff, but also you and everyone in the city and canton.

Here is an ideal timeline for the project:

• Autumn 2025: Start of the youth architecture competition

• 22 February 2026: Project submission deadline

• 12 April 2026: Award ceremony on the studio stage at the opera house

• Early 2026: Start of the international architecture competition

• Early 2027: Selection of the winning project

• After that: detailed project development, various approval procedures, decision by the Zurich Cantonal Government on funding, and possibly a public vote

• 2032: Start of construction

• 2035: Opening of the new cultural center

With major construction projects like this, unexpected events can occur, which could delay the timeline.

From November 2025 to January 2026, guided tours and the following workshops on three topic areas will be offered:

• Interior design / public community space

• Terrace / outdoor space

• Transformation from old to new

Guided tours can be booked here, and registration for the workshops is done via this form.

The workshops are run by ZAZ BELLERIVE Zentrum Architektur Zürich, OFFCUT Zürich and Heimatschutzzentrum in der Villa Patumbah. You can attend on your own, with friends, with your sports club, or with your school class, and explore the building project from different perspectives. You will also learn about many professions related to architecture, construction, and urban planning. In some workshops you will create models or drawings. On a guided tour through the opera house, you will be able to see the context on site. The detailed workshop program will be published at a later date.

You can find ideas for possible topics just below under “Possible Questions”, but you are also welcome to submit work on other themes, as long as it relates to the new cultural center at Sechseläutenplatz. You may submit your work as a project folder, model, video, drawing, audio file, or written text — by email, by post, or in person — until 22 February 2026.

A jury will award prizes in three age categories (10–12 years, 13–15 years, 16–18 years) and across the different topic fields. All projects will be presented in an exhibition as well as digitally. They will serve as inspiration for the international architecture firms and show what young people in the Canton of Zurich envision for this site.

Maybe you'd like to explore one of the following questions?

Interior design / public community space

• What might this place look like? How might it sound or smell?

• What offerings should such a space include so that people with very different backgrounds feel welcome and use it?

• How can the design help spark conversations between people?

• What makes a space cozy? What creates a “vibe”?

• This community space is also meant to be a cultural space — what would you like to see happen there?

• How do you encourage people who have never been here before to enter the building? What makes a place inviting?

• How can the transition between the new building and the historic opera house be designed so that it feels natural and welcoming, without creating a barrier?

Terrace / outdoor space

• What does your dream rooftop terrace look like?

• What would you like to do on this terrace? What do you think other people would want to do there?

• How can you provide enough shade?

• What kinds of seating encourage people to stay and relax?

• How could the terrace change throughout the seasons?

• How would you design the space in front of the cultural center?

Transformation old–new / heritage / architecture

• What could the new building look like so that it complements the historic opera house in the best possible way?

• What do you need to consider to connect the two buildings, so that people can move between levels easily and naturally?

• What might a building look like that fits well into the cityscape while still being so unique that people all across Zurich — and beyond — talk about it?