With cultural events, shows, congresses, trade fairs, sporting events and other events for up to 9,000 people, the Neue Festhalle intergenerational project enables experiences on a scale never before seen in Bern. The Neue Festhalle thus ensures that Bern becomes a more attractive location.
The new festival hall is divided into three different functional areas: The multifunctional hall (stage), the event hall (cube) with breakouts (deck) and hospitality areas (lounge), as well as the shared foyer (including the necessary production and building services areas).
The overall interior design and furnishing project by Frey & Frey is based on the color and materialization concept of the new building and was harmoniously coordinated with it.
A strong focus was placed on modularity & multifunctionality / event suitability, quality of stay, hospitality / hospitality requirements (esp. corporate / congress). The high standards of sustainability (Minergie-P building) and digitalization / new work were taken into account.
The interior design blends seamlessly into the timelessness of the cubic building, without neglecting the efficiency, mobility, handling and storability of the furnishings.
The Café des Artistes functions as a lobby with a bar in the hospitality area and serves as a contact point for visitors to check in, wait and check out. The furnishings, in particular the cube for congresses, were given top priority in terms of sustainability. The evaluation focused on the Eames Plastic Side Chair from Vitra, which uses post-consumer plastic that can in turn be recycled. These principles in the evaluation of the furnishings continue in the Studios & Meeting Rooms, Hospitality, Loge, Terraces and Suite areas. On the bridge as a work zone and the deck areas for breakout sessions, multifunctionality is a top priority.
The Neue Festhalle creates an attractive offering for trade fairs and exhibitions at a leading trade fair venue that is to be further expanded. It complements the range of events on offer, strengthens the exhibition site and increases the national appeal of the city and region of Bern. This will create a versatile meeting place for society, politics, business and culture.
