Though far from a done deal, the selection process for the final design of the Festspielhaus is progressing nicely. The two finalists for the project – the architectural firms Zaha Hadid and Hermann&Valentiny – have submitted their revised plans, ending the consolidation phase. The two general contractors hired by Deutsche Post DHL are now conducting their own market-based cost estimates for each design.

Bonn’s mayor Jürgen Nimptsch recently presented his elaborate concept “New Forms of Citizen Involvement”, its centerpiece being the citizen survey scheduled for May of this year. The administration has decided not to include the issue of the newly planned Festspielhaus in the survey, but plans to deal with the issue before the start of summer recess. This decision has caused some concern over yet another delay.

It’s now official: the several individuals and organizations that had met last November have formed the association “Fest.Spiel.Haus.Freunde e.V.” (Friends of the Festspielhaus). The group was founded upon the common aim of promoting and supporting the building and operation of the new Beethoven Festspielhaus Bonn.

Feathers were ruffled this weekend after Bonn's City Director Volker Kregel introduced a “Plan B” regarding the site of the city’s new Festspielhaus. According to the General Anzeiger, Kregel considers the campus of the former federal state administrative building (Landesbehördenhaus) located on Route B9 a viable alternative to the Beethovenhalle. Kregel’s thoughts were met with little understanding from Bonn's music and arts community.

Fest.Spiel.Haus.Freunde: This is the name of the newly organized initiative to support and promote the construction of the planned Beethoven Festspielhaus. The founding “friends” include clubs, associations and foundations in Bonn which carry the name Beethoven. They presented Mayor Jürgen Nimptsch with a joint statement this past Wednesday.

Deutsche Post DHL will be making no further decisions regarding the Festspielhaus project until the results of the citizen survey, planned by Mayor Jürgen Nimptsch (SPD) for May 2010, are out. The start of construction for the new concert venue could be delayed until 2012 as a result. “We still stand firmly behind the project,” emphasized Deutsche Post DHL CEO Frank Appel.

Bonn’s new mayor made it clear that he is in favor of a new Festspielhaus. In an interview with Bonn's daily newspaper General Anzeiger, Jürgen Nimptsch describes the project as a once in a lifetime opportunity. “Without a new Festspielhaus, Bonn will no longer be known as the City of Beethoven the world over.”

A virtual journey through the designs of Zaha Hadid and Francois Valentiny - computer animations give very special insights.

The newly elected mayor of Bonn Jürgen Nimptsch (SPD, at right) plans to poll Bonn’s citizens about the city’s new Festspielhaus.

Preparations for a decision on the fundamental details of the Festspielhaus are running according to plan. Yet the project itself continues to be the subject of discussion, not least because of the events surrounding the World Conference Center Bonn. Heinrich Küpper and Manfred Harnischfeger, project managers at Deutsche Post DHL, talk about attitudes, discussions and what comes next.

„We hear with our ears, but also with our eyes and our emotions within a social context", says Professor Volkwin Marg, head of the expert committee for architecture, in an interview.

Another decision has been reached, taking Bonn just one step closer to finding the final design for its new Beethoven Festspielhaus: Zaha Hadid and Hermann & Valentiny are the two finalists in the architect selection process.

The Guest Book gives website visitors the chance to get involved in the Festspielhaus project.