© Image courtesy of Rotondes
With renovation plans set through 2028, Rotondes is preparing for its next chapter – one that aims to welcome more people, more often, into a cultural space reimagined for everyday discovery.
The story of Rotondes spans three centuries, and has never stopped evolving. In this three-part series, we dive into the past, present, and future. Today, we are looking towards what lies ahead.
Rotondes has served as a space for many different people, plans, and projects over the years, yet it's not at all difficult to say exactly what it truly represents. For director Steph Meyers, the biggest contribution of Rotondes comes down to how, as a public institution, it has raised awareness and created a space for events focused on culture and community.
The team plans to expand on that in the coming years. Speaking to RTL Today after the presentation of the 25/26 season in late June, Meyers outlined the ambitious plans he has in store for Rotondes – including the completion of Rotonde 2, which has remained incomplete since 2015.
Meyers presenting the 2025/26 season / © Image courtesy of Rotondes
Upgrades and renovations
Early work will begin in 2025, and Meyers says this will be the final stage of the renovation. "There will be an optimisation of Rotonde 1," he said. "They began to put some closed spaces in it two months ago, and this will last until the end of this year."
Next, there will be new windows installed in the Rotonde 1 for thermal insulation and sound enhancement. They also plan to install dressing rooms for visiting artists.
In 2026, an entire restoration of the Rotonde 2 will begin. The goal: to completely use the space it holds.
The new Rotonde 2 will be partly covered, with the other half completely open. Within the venue's four floors, capacity will expand from the current 250 to 1,000, with spaces for hosting different events simultaneously.
"The aim would be for [there to be something on] every day, so families and younger people can continuously come and discover cultural things," Meyers described.
Site plans for Rotondes 2028 / © Image courtesy of Rotondes
In 2027, the final part of the renovation will begin: this includes the destruction of the container city which currently houses Radio ARA. It will be replaced by a restaurant, which Meyers envisions being open daily. Radio ARA's new home will be the renewed Rotonde 2.
All of this and more by 2028. "You're still recording?" Meyers checks, smiling. "The goal is 2028 – let's say that. We hope that sometime in the beginning of 2028, if everything goes well."
A new restaurant and bar are set for Rotondes 2028 / © Image courtesy of Rotondes
Creating a new home
With so much going on, it is only natural for regulars and visitors to wonder what happens in between. The Gudde Wellen cafe has already arrived in Rotonde 2, where it is set to take over bar duties for the next three years. Concerts, however, may prove a bit more challenging.
"At the beginning, we were told we could continue. Of course, we knew it wouldn't be possible at all times," Meyers said. "The further we get [into renovation], the more clear it will be that at a certain time we have to pause, to stop the musical programming."
While the details are still unclear, Meyers is certain the show will go on: "I think we will have to be very creative at some point – but the main purpose has always been to continue our programming in one way or another."
The best of both worlds
Fully understanding the benefits and disadvantages of each Rotunda, Meyers and his team are keen to transform them accordingly, and carefully.
"Rotondes works best when bridges are made between different events, and different audiences, and that doesn't come along often – but when it works, it's really cool to have two different kinds of events: some people come for the one thing at Rotonde 1, and then discover that there's something else going on at Rotonde 2 – and then people mix up and mingle."
He refers here to the separate identities that distinguish Rotonde 1 (primarily for exhibitions and visual installations, and events) and Rotonde 2 (which houses concert space Klub and :buvette bar).
"The main goal is to consider the disadvantages of Rotonde 1, and transform them to advantages in Rotonde 2," he said. "Rotonde 1 will be visually closed and acoustically completely open – when you come inside, you won't see the 'rotunda' completely. But acoustically, it'll be completely open – so you can't program things simultaneously."
Rotonda 2 / © Image courtesy of Rotondes
In Rotonde 2, however, it will be the exact opposite. "You'll come in, you can see from the entrance to the central point, or when you're in the center, you see all the windows – you see the rooftop, inside, and the windows – but you have a lot of closed spaces which can function individually and side by side."
This, he says, is an important goal for the types of events they're planning to have in these spaces, and to be able to have more flexibility in organization. The goal is to allow attendees to have a different experience in each Rotonde – and to ensure they both keep the separate characters and identities they have now.
"A lot of people now prefer the Rotonde 2 which is not renovated, so we have to be very careful to not do it exactly the same way as we did Rotonde 1," he added.
A place for everyone
What the team hopes to achieve next is something special, and somewhat intangible: to create a space where people come in to find and experience something new.
"We will hope to have the resources so people will not only come to see or watch something specific, but to come and be pretty sure that something will always be happening," Meyers said.
"That there will be something to do, something to be seen. It's interesting to see if it will work or not, but we are trying to create all the conditions to [allow us to] get there," he concluded.
"Rotondes is for everybody who is curious to discover new things."
