"In the depths of the Rhine… Surge, O wave, surge to the cradle! Wagala weia!" – This evocative passage from Richard Wagner's opera Das Rheingold inspired Andreas B. Maier of Munich-based Moare Architektur to shape the vision for the new Rheingold Bar-Bistro at the Bavarian State Opera. Built on the footprint of the former box office and Rheingold Bar, the space opened this autumn—precisely 151 years to the day after Das Rheingold premiered in Munich on September 22, 1869. In partnership with Böhmler Büro und Objekt, the designers crafted a genuinely mystical environment drawing directly from Wagner's libretto and stage design descriptions.

Greenish twilight that brightens toward the ceiling establishes the sense of descending into the Rhine's depths, reinforced through carefully chosen materials, colors, and lighting. The restrained architectural language honors the existing structure while creating something entirely new. Visitors pass through a heavy stage curtain to discover playfully composed seating areas—the Rhine maidens. Wittmann seating in emerald green, mustard yellow, and midnight blue, arranged on colorful patterned carpets, invites lingering. The room's heart features a strictly geometric arrangement of velvet armchairs in emerald green, anchored on both sides by substantial architectural bronze forms. This configuration embodies Alberich and his conflict with the Rhine maidens. The bar, wrapped in shimmering verde sanct Denis marble from the Aosta Valley, protects the golden-hued back wall—the Rhine gold itself. The backlit onyx wall spans 24 square meters and weighs over a ton. Cognac-toned bar stools from Kusch complement a custom pale green velvet bench by Böhmler Büro und Objekt. Delicate "Dipping Light" table lamps and large glass pendant fixtures from the State Opera's collection complete the atmospheric experience. Beyond the expansive windows, the vibrant Maximilianstraße becomes a living stage set, weaving the city into the room's narrative.

The route to the ticket office deliberately flows through the Rheingold space toward the box office—also reimagined by Moare Architektur—creating a natural immersion into the operatic world that sets a perfect tone for the evening ahead.

www.moare-architektur.de
www.boehmler.de

All images: © Rheingold bar-bistro at the
Bavarian State Opera
Design: Moare Architektur

Photography Credits:

James McDonald
www.jamesmcdonaldphotography.co.uk

(Published in CUBE Munich 04|20)