Dampfzentrale Bern

Dampfzentrale Bern is a cultural venue in Bern, Switzerland, situated directly on the Aare on the site of the Marzilibad. Its building history begins in the early 20th century, when the architect Eduard Joos built a thermal power plant on behalf of the city of Bern's electricity works; coal arrived by ship from the Brienzersee region, and the plant later added diesel generators before ceasing coal operation. After the diesel generators were dismantled in 1973 the site became an industrial wasteland used provisionally for storage, and it narrowly escaped demolition before heritage protection intervened in 1981. In the mid-1980s the Verein Dampfzentrale was founded (1986) with the goal of cultural use of the Dampfzentrale Bern, and in May 1987 the building was occupied for one night. Today the venue presents a programme of stage, music and dance events and supports artists through residencies.

The history of Dampfzentrale Bern begins in the early 20th century. As Bern's electricity demand rose sharply and the existing Matte river power plant supplied too little power at low water, the architect Eduard Joos built the thermal power plant in 1904 on behalf of the city of Bern's electricity works. Coal reached the Dampfzentrale Bern by ship from the Brienzersee region; the boilers in the boiler house were fired and the three-phase turbines in the turbine hall generated electrical energy. In 1924 the coal boilers were supplemented by diesel generators, and in 1939 coal operation was stopped entirely. The plant's widely visible landmark, a 50-metre-high chimney, was demolished. With the dismantling of the diesel generators in 1973, the Dampfzentrale became an industrial wasteland and was used provisionally as a warehouse. Projects for new swimming and gymnastics halls flared up and were destroyed again. The Dampfzentrale Bern narrowly escaped demolition, had heritage protection not intervened in 1981. In the mid-1980s Bern's event offering was modest: the independent dance and theatre scene was looking for performance venues. The Reitschule was barricaded and the Zaffaraya hut settlement was bulldozed. The Verein Dampfzentrale was founded in 1986 with the goal of cultural use of the Dampfzentrale Bern, and it submitted an application to the Bern municipal council. In May 1987 the Dampfzentrale Bern was occupied for one night and the Züri West song 'Hansdampf' came about.

A cultural venue in Bern offering stage, music and dance programming and artist residencies.

1. 1Home | Dampfzentrale Berndampfzentrale.ch
2. 2Geschichte | Dampfzentrale Berndampfzentrale.ch
3. 3Team | Dampfzentrale Berndampfzentrale.ch
4. 4Residenzen | Dampfzentrale Berndampfzentrale.ch