Berlin Philharmonie renovation could cost €800 million

Refurbishing the Philharmonie, a gleaming gold landmark in the German capital that is home to the Berlin Philharmonic, could cost around €800 million ($910 million), according to a feasibility study.

Artistic director Andrea Zietzschmann said there had been no fundamental renovation of the building since it opened in 1963.

Work is expected to begin in 2032 and to last until 2040, during which the orchestra could move to the former Tempelhof Airport at an estimated cost of €350 million, bringing total cost to €1.15 billion.

The Philharmonie, designed by Hans Scharoun and located near Potsdamer Platz, is one of Berlin's most iconic buildings. The current chief conductor of the world-famous orchestra is Kirill Petrenko.

The ageing building faces fire safety problems, while its air-conditioning systems and electrical infrastructure are outdated. Sanitary facilities also occasionally overflow because of clogged pipes.

"What this hall is to us as an orchestra is what my violin is to me as a violinist - our instrument," Philipp Bohnen, a member of the Berlin Philharmonic's media board, said.

"The acoustics we have here are sensational and unique in the world," Bohnen said.

Financing for the project has yet to be finalized. The German government has pledged up to €225 million under an agreement to fund projects in the capital, while Berlin's investment budget includes €350 million, bringing the funding earmarked so far to nearly €600 million.

Zietzschmann said that this represented a good start and expressed the hope that the incoming Berlin state government would take a decision soon.