Gateway to Urban Hub

The heart of Düsseldorf's cultural scene is about to undergo a significant transformation with the arrival of KAP1. This historic building, once an old logistics centre, is now being transformed into a hub for knowledge and culture, set to house the central library, the Forum Freies Theater (FFT), a theater museum, and various facilities for the performing arts.

The central library, expected to open at the beginning of 2021, will welcome around one million visitors annually. With its lower floor dedicated to communication and the upper one serving as the library's brain, it promises to be a bustling centre of information and learning.

The FFT, under the leadership of artistic director and CEO Kathrin Tiedemann, is looking forward to making theater at KAP1 in about one and a half years. The theater hall, capable of accommodating up to 235 visitor seats, will be the new home for the FFT's productions, as well as the theater museum.

Kathrin Tiedemann and her team have their work cut out for them in the coming season, as planning the theater move and designing the program will be their most important tasks. The team will also have access to two rehearsal stages, one of which can be used for performances.

Inside KAP1, the partition walls, screed, and building services have been removed, paving the way for interior fit-out and municipal construction measures to begin soon. The new Forum Freies Theater in the KAP1 building is scheduled to open in November 2025.

The Düsseldorf residents will not only get a new FFT playhouse and a theater museum, but also a state-of-the-art central library. This exciting development has generated anticipation not only in the city but elsewhere as well.

Mayor Thomas Geisel has visited the KAP1 construction site for a site inspection, expressing his enthusiasm for the project. Dr. Norbert Kamp, head of Düsseldorf's city libraries, eagerly awaits the move from the Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz to the front side of the station.

The originally planned 16.5 million euros for the municipal construction measures must be adjusted to 18.6 million euros due to cost increases. Despite this, the project remains on track, with KAP1's total area spanning over 2,200 square meters.

The theater museum and the united playhouses of the Forum Freies Theater will move into a 1990s-era building. A five-meter-wide staircase will serve as a connection between the information area of the central library on the 2nd floor and the 3rd floor in the future.

As KAP1 takes shape, it's clear that this historic building will become a beacon of culture and knowledge in the heart of Düsseldorf, offering a welcoming space for visitors, artists, and the community alike.