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The Kassenhalle as part of the Berliner Festspielhaus, designed in 1963 by Fritz Bornemann as a threshold space between city and stage, is now complemented by a contemporary bar. The design reflects the Kassenhalle’s unique position within the Festspielhaus ensemble – as a place of transition, encounter, and cultural anticipation.
At the heart of the design is the Litfaßsäule – a symbol of public culture and exchange. It structures the bar, defines storage areas, and creates a mediated area for visitors and staff. A surrounding belt connects the elements and serves as a visual projection surface. This is complemented by the use of exposed aggregate concrete – one of the defining materials of the building – which forms the bar counter. It reinforces the architectural identity while creating a tactile contrast to the Litfaß motif.
The bar itself becomes an element of transition: between inside and outside, between guest and host, between everyday life and cultural experience. It embodies the role of the Kassenhalle as a connector of the architectural and public space within the Festspielhaus.
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