Staatstheater Darmstadt
While exploring the German Town of Darmstadt, I came across an impressive sight. I was walking out through the town, when I wandered into a large open square with a very unique looking set of concrete structures and an imposing, but starkly beautiful building down the far end of it. I had read about it previously in the guide books, but it was something else to see it in person. It was like something out of a science fiction movie. It was the Darmstadt State Theatre.
Called “Staatstheater Darmstadt” in German, it is both a theatre company and a theatre. The venue hosts ballets, plays and concerts. The original theatre dates back over 300 years, and it was originally a court theatre for the Hessian court. It was opened to the public 100 years later. The current theatre, and impressive structure was opened in 1972, designed by architect Rolf Prange who had won a national competition in 1963 to design the theatre.
I love photographing buildings like this, as you can get some great abstract images of textures and patterns when you get up close. But this is so impressively ordered, that even wide shots have a sense of texture and symmetry to them. There was a certain stark beauty to the place. I would love to have seen it at night when it was open. I’ve seen pictures of it online, and lit up it looks beautiful, as it comes alive with colour.
All images were shot with a Fuji X-Pro 2 and 18-55mm lens. Processing was done in Lightroom, and I was using a yet-to-be released set of presets for the look (coming soon!).
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