Goetheanum Building

Address: Goetheanum, Dornach, Switzerland

Website: https://www.goetheanum.org/

Hours: Varies by event; check schedule

The Goetheanum in Dornach, Canton of Solothurn, Switzerland, is the world center of the Anthroposophical movement and comprises an architecturally distinctive complex designed by Rudolf Steiner. The site is notable for its expressive reinforced-concrete main building and its role as a cultural and conference center.

The complex is visited for its architecture, theatre and exhibition spaces and for events connected with anthroposophy and the arts. The main building contains performance halls and rooms used for conferences, lectures and cultural activities rather than a conventional museum collection.

Rudolf Steiner designed the original Goetheanum, completed in 1913; that structure was destroyed by fire in 1922 and Steiner subsequently oversaw construction of the second Goetheanum in reinforced concrete, completed in the late 1920s. The site has since served as the institutional headquarters for anthroposophical organisations and a venue for artistic and educational programming.

The Goetheanum stands in Dornach, just outside the city of Basel in northwestern Switzerland, roughly a short drive southeast of Basel, set in a suburban landscape with parkland and cultural facilities.

• Steiner’s design and dates: Designed by Rudolf Steiner, the first Goetheanum was completed in 1913 and destroyed by fire in 1922; the current reinforced-concrete building was completed in the late 1920s.

What to See#

• Second Goetheanum: Second Goetheanum (main building) - Reinforced concrete building completed in the late 1920s housing performance spaces, exhibition halls and administrative rooms for the Anthroposophical Society.
• First Goetheanum site: Ruins and site of the First Goetheanum - The original timber-and-stone building completed in the 1910s was destroyed by fire in 1922; its loss led to construction of the second building in concrete.

From Basel or Zürich, train to Dornach-Arlesheim and a short taxi or local bus to the Goetheanum. Driving via the A18 and local roads is straightforward; parking is available on-site for visitors to events.

• The Goetheanum is an active cultural and spiritual center; check the event calendar for lectures, performances and exhibitions.
• The building's architecture is best appreciated on a guided tour where design details and anthroposophical ideas are explained.
• Photography may be restricted in some interior spaces during events; ask staff before taking images.