Kuppel Basel

Kuppel Basel is a true sonic landmark, built with an uncompromising focus on acoustic performance. WSDG (Walters-Storyk Design Group), renowned for their acoustic expertise, was tasked with designing the room acoustics, electro-acoustics, and isolation acoustic systems for the entire complex, which includes the main Kuppel live venue, a club in the annex building, rehearsal rooms, and various communal areas. From the outset, the brief demanded extreme sound isolation due to the site’s proximity to residential areas and strict Swiss noise regulations. WSDG’s solution involved constructing the Kuppel live venue as a solid concrete structure enveloped by a secondary acoustical shell—a “cheese dome”—that eliminates mechanical contact with the inner structure. Specialised decoupling components from HBT ISOL, CDM Stravitec, and ASD Herzog were implemented, including custom-designed springs to maintain structural integrity without compromising isolation. To verify effectiveness, engineers conducted real-time listening tests with stethoscopes, confirming that acoustic decoupling was flawless.

Inside the Kuppel, a powerful yet precise sound system designed by WSDG and integrated by Auviso features Coda Audio APS arrays, SCN-F servo-controlled subwoofers, and N-APS and HOPS8 speakers. A spaced array of five SCN-F subs is neatly installed under the stage, delivering rich low-frequency coverage while maintaining an architecturally discreet profile. Symetrix Edge DSP manages routing and system control, while Dante ensures seamless digital audio distribution. Stage monitoring is achieved with Coda Cue Two wedges and a G15 sub, and performers benefit from premium microphone options from Shure, Sennheiser, and DPA. A Yamaha CL4 digital mixing console with Rio 3224-D2 handles FOH duties, enabling pristine live mixes.

The adjacent Nest Club, also acoustically optimised by WSDG, features a flush-mounted KV2 Audio SL series system supported by EX28 DJ monitors and KV2 amplification. Pioneer and Technics DJ gear complete the setup, ensuring a professional and reliable performance environment. Whether in the main concert hall or intimate club, WSDG’s meticulous approach to sound isolation and acoustic control results in a sonically immersive experience that honours the needs of performers and guests alike, without disturbing the surrounding neighbourhood.

Konnex, the Swiss event technology specialists, handled the entire lighting concept, from architectural illumination to stage and effects lighting. In the Kuppel live venue, the lighting rig was carefully planned to accommodate a wide variety of performances – from electronic DJ sets to live bands and theatrical-style events. The dome ceiling, a central architectural feature, is subtly accentuated with atmospheric lighting, creating a breathtaking canopy that evolves with each show.

To deliver on this flexibility, Konnex installed a hybrid system using Martin Rush MH 5 profile moving heads and Robe LEDBeam 150 wash lights, offering a wide range of beam effects, from tight shafts of light to full-room colour washes. Robe Cuete spotlights add precision to performance areas, while Showtec LED Pinspot Q4 and Shark – The Meg moving heads bring additional punch. All fixtures are controlled via MA Lighting’s grandMA3 compact console, paired with an onPC rack system that allows for remote or in-house control via tablet. This setup lets Kuppel’s team operate daily lighting scenarios without needing a full-time operator while still allowing touring crews to take full control when needed.

For more intimate events, such as lectures or ambient sets, Konnex included subtle stage lighting that mimics natural light, ensuring visibility without overpowering the space. The hybrid setup ensures a balance between high-energy show effects and soft, elegant mood lighting.

A dramatic centrepiece is the custom-built 1.4-metre-wide mirror ball suspended from the cupola, hand-crafted by Konnex and sized to scale with the dome. This sculptural feature becomes a stunning visual focal point during performances, scattering beams across the venue to amplify the show atmosphere.

In the Nest Club, the lighting becomes darker, moodier, and more immersive. Konnex used the same grandMA3 platform, combined with Showtec Accent Spot SW fixtures and Shark – The Meg Beam One moving heads to craft a club-ready environment. The deliberate contrast between the Kuppel and the club creates a varied but cohesive venue experience.

Across all areas, lighting was carefully integrated with the architectural constraints and technical systems, ensuring aesthetic harmony while maximising impact.

Visual plays a supportive yet impactful role in Kuppel Basel’s multifaceted performance spaces. In the main live venue, a Panasonic PT-RZ120 laser projector is installed at the rear of the room to project onto a custom-built concave wall above the stage. This wall was constructed from micro-perforated wood panels, designed not only to provide a smooth, acoustically absorptive surface but also to serve as a high-quality projection screen. This dual-purpose solution, developed in collaboration between architect VécseySchmidt Architektinnen and WSDG, ensured that the visual content could be delivered without interfering with the room’s acoustic performance—a key concern in a space optimised for amplified music.

Throughout the venue, video distribution is managed via a robust infrastructure that ensures flexibility for a wide range of events. Whether used for visual backdrops during DJ sets, projection mapping, or presentations, the system was designed to integrate seamlessly with the audio and lighting environments. The visual experience is enhanced by thoughtful architectural planning, with projection points and sightlines carefully coordinated between all stakeholders, including AV integrator Auviso and the structural engineering team.

In the basement club, the visual experience is more atmospheric. Here, Konnex integrated compact, high-performance lighting and visual elements designed to immerse visitors in a dramatically different ambience. MA Lighting’s grandMA3 onPC rack unit enables flexible control, whether operated by in-house staff via an iPad or taken over by touring VJs with a full desk setup.

Overall, video at Kuppel Basel does not aim to dominate the sensory experience but to enhance it holistically. It is a complement to the venue’s exceptional acoustics and lighting design, capable of transforming the mood and function of each room while supporting the visual identity of concerts, electronic music events, and special functions. The integration of projection and visual content into a performance venue built with such strict acoustic parameters is a testament to the close collaboration between WSDG, Konnex, VécseySchmidt Architektinnen, and other technical partners.

Among the most significant challenges for Kuppel Basel was achieving stringent sound isolation while maintaining structural elegance and acoustic excellence across multiple, diverse performance spaces. This was not simply a matter of keeping the sound in, it was about doing so without compromising the venue’s powerful, high-impact sonic character.

To address this, WSDG devised a novel dual-shell acoustic structure for the main concert hall: a concrete inner core housing the stage and audience areas, encased within a second, independent “cheese dome” shell. This decoupled architecture, designed in close partnership with VécseySchmidt Architektinnen, used bespoke spring isolators developed by HBT ISOL, CDM Stravitec and ASD Herzog to physically separate the inner and outer structures. No mechanical connection between them ensures that vibrations from performances cannot travel into the surrounding neighbourhood – a critical requirement under Swiss acoustic law.

Precision testing was conducted using mechanical impact hammers and acoustic stethoscopes, confirming full decoupling across the dome’s surface. This creative solution allowed for robust live performances, even with sound pressure levels reaching up to 100 dBA, without compromising community peace or building integrity.

Within the main venue, integrating high-performance audio into a compact and architecturally significant environment required equally detailed planning. Kuppel’s curved ceiling, unconventional acoustics, and aesthetic demands necessitated discrete yet powerful reinforcement. WSDG worked closely with AV integrator Auviso and architect Robert Müller to perfectly place Coda Audio APS arrays, low-profile SCN-F subwoofers, and HOPS8i fills, maximising performance while preserving sightlines and atmosphere.

Further challenges emerged with the adjoining Nest Klub and rehearsal rooms in the annex. Positioned directly beneath a restaurant and beside office spaces, the club required substantial soundproofing. The team used floating floors, dense isolation layers, and staggered scheduling to prevent overlap between uses, effectively solving a difficult multi-use conundrum.

Adding to the complexity was the sheer scale of custom installations—from Konnex’s hand-built 1.4m mirror ball to the hidden subwoofer arrays beneath the stage—all of which had to be manoeuvred through a maximum 1.2m-wide entryway. Careful construction staging and modular design enabled these components to be assembled onsite with precision.

Kuppel Basel represents a groundbreaking model of what a multipurpose cultural venue can achieve when architectural vision, acoustic precision, and technological innovation are in perfect harmony.

What sets Kuppel apart is the breadth and depth of its ambition. From the immersive live concert hall crowned by its iconic dome, to the intimate underground club and multifunctional rehearsal spaces, every square metre is designed with both purpose and soul. Its role as a cultural campus – blending performance, education, dining, and creative enterprise – embodies the very spirit of a modern multipurpose venue.

At the heart of its success is the extraordinary synergy between stakeholders. Architect Robert Müller and his team at VécseySchmidt Architektinnen worked hand-in-hand with WSDG, Konnex, and Auviso from concept to completion. Their shared commitment to balancing aesthetics and performance resulted in solutions that broke new ground in AV and acoustical integration – without compromising architectural beauty.

From an audio perspective, the decision to embed a floating concert hall within a decoupled structural shell is an acoustic achievement of the highest order. This innovation allows Kuppel to deliver the visceral energy of live rock, pop, or electronic sets at full volume—while remaining invisible to the outside world. It exemplifies what’s possible when laws, limits, and creativity collide in productive ways.

Technologically, the venue stands as a showcase for intelligent system design. Dante-based infrastructure throughout enables fluid audio routing. Flexible lighting controlled via hybrid MA Lighting consoles empowers day-to-day operators and touring LDs alike. And architectural surfaces double as acoustic treatments, projection screens, and even show elements—blurring the lines between form and function.

Perhaps most importantly, Kuppel Basel is a living example of sustainability—not just environmentally, but culturally. It honours the legacy of its legendary tent predecessor while offering a platform for the future of music in Basel. It’s an adaptable, enduring space built to serve generations of artists, producers, students, and audiences. In a world where venues often favour flash over function, Kuppel Basel is something rare: an experience designed from the ground up to sound, feel, and look extraordinary.