25th anniversary of the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre

25 years ago, on August 18, 1998, the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre (KKL Lucerne) concert hall, was opened. © Keystone / Urs Flueeler

To mark the 25th anniversary of the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre (KKL Lucerne), architect Jean Nouvel returned to the building he designed on Saturday.

For architect Jean Nouvel, the KKL is a special building. The culture and congress centre was his first “international child”, said the French star architect. It was an unforgettable building that also triggered many discussions, Nouvel said on Saturday, the start of the two-day celebrationExternal link.

25 years ago, on August 18, 1998, the KKL concert hall, which has become famous for its acoustics, was opened. In March 2000, the entire building, which includes other halls, the art museum and restaurants, was inaugurated. From the outside, the huge roof of the KKL, 100 metres by 100 metres, catches the eye.

In his original project, Nouvel had planned a concert hall that would rise into the lake like a ship. But this was too spectacular, and Nouvel had to go over the books. Instead, he led the water into the building with canals.

In total, the construction of the KKL Lucerne cost CHF226.5 million ($252.40 million), CHF32.5 million more than planned.

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