The Gasteig, the largest cultural center in Europe, will undergo an intensive renovation and remodeling. After 30 years of use, the Gasteig will be redesigned by the team at HENN. Opening in 1984/85, the centre welcomes an estimated two million visitors annually. Originally designed by the architecture partnership of Raue, Rollenhagen, Grossmann and Lindemann, its red brick design may not have been a visual showstopper. However, the building's role as Munich's cultural hub is what it's revered for. 

Having been chosen to renovate a structural icon within the community, HENN focused on redesigning the center by introducing a new architectural element to the building. Highlighting the role of the center's interior, HENN's design proposal features a glazed bridge that focuses on uniting existing areas of the building. The transparency of the bridge creates a new visual perspective enabling the the Gasteig to open up to the city and create a welcoming feel. 

This new architectural element creates a cultural stage or “Kulturbühne” for the Gasteig. The transparency and openness the design provides enables the cultural center to develop a new identity that makes a deliberate contrast from its monolithic and rigid exterior. Functioning as a foyer, exhibition space, event area, and a circulation crossing the stage enables visitors and staff to view the center's multifunctional capabilities. Each element of the Gasteig was renovated to help highlight and modernize the space's functionality. For example, the Philharmonic was redesigned with the intention to strengthen and provide optimal acoustics and spatial use. 

The multifunctional Carl Orff Auditorium was designed to be the most flexible space within the Gasteig. Used to host ballets, concerts, and theatre performances the modifiability of the space is accomplished by the machine powered lifting platforms under the stage. This allows for the auditorium to be used at a single level while a gradation of platforms can be maneuvered to accommodate to various events. The area's new rectangular shape enables the auditorium to increase its audience capacity by 1,000 people.

Regardless of how the space is being used, the center's new design gives each element of the Gasteig its own identity helping maintain the iconic presence it has had for the past 30 years.