Außenspielstätte am Offenbachplatz

Außenspielstätte am Offenbachplatz is a theatre venue in Cologne, housed in a two-storey pavilion beside the opera quarter. Wheelchair access is available throughout this cultural venue. Large glass surfaces, ceramic-clad façades and a terrace give the building its recognisable nineteen-fifties character. Wilhelm Riphahn designed the pavilion in 1957.

Originally called the Opernterrassen, the two-storey structure formed part of Riphahn’s ensemble with Cologne Opera and Schauspielhaus. Four halls once occupied both floors of the pavilion. An atrium-like space connected them, while a rooftop terrace extended the plan. Cafés and restaurants occupied it for decades, followed by events and dancing until 2012. Monument protection recognised its architectural significance in 1989. During opera-quarter renovations, most of the pavilion disappeared, leaving its southern and eastern exterior walls. Schauspiel Köln began using the altered Kleine Haus provisionally in September 2016. Theatre performances and exhibitions use the space, including displays of designs for Offenbachplatz’s future furnishing. A prominent three-part window marks the side facing Brüderstraße.