More Than 100-Year-Old Power Plant Transformed into a Cultural Hotspot

The Bergson Kunstkraftwerk is a new event venue in the western part of Munich. The conversion and revitalisation of the former Aubing heating plant has created an architecturally remarkable building.

A large portion of the original architecture was preserved during the revitalisation and complemented with modern elements. Historic brickwork and tall vertical window structures framed with Nagelfluh stone meet exposed concrete and matte black metal.

Construction of the original building began in 1940. Following the Second World War, it was used as a heating plant from 1955 to 1964. After this period, the building remained vacant for many years until its new owner awakened it from its long slumber.

The main building consists of a hall measuring 45 metres in width and 25 metres in height. Within this hall are massive former reinforced-concrete coal silos.

As part of the revitalisation project, the former coal storage areas located high above ground level were converted into usable spaces. An art gallery was created within these areas. To facilitate this new use, a new staircase and lift were installed. To ensure safe access for gallery visitors, it was necessary to guarantee effective smoke extraction from these areas in the event of a fire.

For smoke extraction within the gallery, a total of seven openings were cut into the concrete walls of the former coal silos. PRIORIT smoke exhaust dampers were installed in these openings. In the event of a fire, the dampers can be opened automatically by motorised operation, allowing smoke to escape safely.

The development of this solution was carried out in close cooperation between the architectural practice Stenger2 Architekten und Partner and PRIORIT as the manufacturer of the smoke exhaust dampers. Mr Siegert, the architect responsible for the operational management of the project at Stenger2 Architekten und Partner, also specified a special colour coating for the dampers to match the new matte black metal structures.

Thanks to the creative ideas of the architects and the constructive collaboration of all companies involved in the project, an impressive event venue has been created that combines historic and modern architecture in a truly remarkable way. It is the perfect place to experience art, attend concerts or simply enjoy a coffee.

The smoke exhaust dampers supplied by PRIORIT correspond in design and functionality to the PRIODOOR ETX-RDA Horizontal Smoke Extraction Dampers. Due to the special installation situation, the verification process was carried out in cooperation with the fire protection consultant and the accredited inspection body Rassek, not as a „smoke extraction damper“ but as a „smoke exhaust damper“.