Goetheanum

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The Goetheanum is a center for the anthroposophical movement in Dornach, Switzerland.

The First Goetheanum, a wooden structure designed by Rudolf Steiner, is generally considered a masterpiece of 20th century architecture:^[1]

First Goetheanum

The building, built initially between 1913 and 1919 to house the annual summer theater events of the Anthroposophical Society,[1] became the center of a small colony of spiritual seekers located in Dornach and based around Rudolf Steiner. A rich artistic life was centered around the creation of the building: stained glass windows poured color into the space, painters decorated the ceiling with motifs depicting the whole of human evolution, sculptors carved huge column bases, capitals and architraves with images of metamorphoses, architects created the unusual double-dome wooden structure over a curving concrete base. Already during the construction, musicians, actors and movement artists began performing a wide variety of pieces in a neighboring workshop. When the Goetheanum hall was completed, these performances moved onto the stage located under the Goetheanum's smaller cupola. The auditorium was located under the larger cupola.

This unique building succumbed to arson on New Year's Eve, 1922/23.

Second Goetheanum

In the course of 1923, Steiner designed a building to replace the original. This building, now known as the Second Goetheanum, was wholly built of concrete cast into intricate forms. Begun in 1924, the building was not completed until 1928, [2] after the architect's death. It represents an early use of concrete for such architectural purposes and has now been granted protected status as a Swiss national cultural landmark.

The present Goetheanum houses a 1000-seat auditorium, now the center of a rich performance life incorporating performances of local theater and eurythmy troupes as well as visiting performers from around the world; see the performance calendar.

The building also houses the world offices of the Anthroposophical Society. Conferences focusing on themes of general interest occur several times a year. Specialist conferences for teachers, farmers, doctors, therapists and many other professions are held regularly, as well. These conferences are also listed on the calendar.

The Goetheanum is open for visitors seven days a week and offers tours several times daily.

[edit] Building history

Full remodelings of the central auditorium took place in the mid-1950s and again in the first years of the twenty-first century. The stained glass windows in the present building stem from Steiner's time; the painted ceiling and sculptural columns are contemporary replications or reinterpretations of those in the First Goetheanum.