Gasteig Cultural Center, Munich

Completed in 1985, the Gasteig Cultural Centre consists of structures of contrasting forms clustered around a forum. There is much dark brick interspersed with glass, which some find uplifting, but others unfriendly. Situated on the right bank of the River Isar, the Gasteig (meaning 'steep road' in Bavarian dialect) dominates the axis formed by the Isartor, Zweibrückenstraße and Ludwigsbrücke. The main building is the Philharmonie, home to the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and with seating for 2,400 people. The Gasteig also houses the Carl-Orff-Saal, the Kleine Konzertsaal (the small concert hall) and the Black Box Stage for music, theatre and lectures. In addition, it accommodates Munich's Municipal Library, with 600,000 books (of which 50,000 are for lending), the largest in Germany; the Volkshochschule (adult education centre) and the Richard Strauss Conservatory. The Gasteig is also the main venue for the Munich Film Festival.