Kongresshaus

Enter by Entrance K or B and the Kongressvestibül opens out to 80 metres, bright from both sides. The floor is terrazzo stone, the walls carry exposed sgraffito art, and across from the listed checkroom a green atrium gives the long hall a place to pause.

This is Kongresshaus Zürich, at Gotthardstrasse 5, on the lake in the centre of Zürich and a short tram ride or walk from the main station. Together with the Tonhalle it forms a building complex the house describes as an important work of Swiss architecture, and as an object of more-than-local significance. Over 20 rooms offer more than 5,300 square metres of event space. The adjacent historic halls of the Tonhalle, with over 2,000 square metres, can be used as well, which allows events of up to 4,500 participants.

The Kongresssaal, on the second floor, is the largest event hall in the building. Its room height of over 11 metres makes it one of the centrepieces of the house, and large windows facing the terrace give it an open feel. In the Gartensaal wing, floor-to-ceiling windows look out over the lake and the Alpine panorama, and movable partitions let the three spaces become one area of up to 1,350 square metres. The Grosse and Kleine Tonhalle remain the stages for concerts.

The calendar runs from congresses and design fairs to the stage. Coming dates include the BLICKFANG design weekend, the Georgian National Ballet Sukhishvili, and Snatam Kaur, the Grammy-nominated singer, teacher and author, in Living Light on 19 April 2027. The LUX Restaurant & Bar looks over Lake Zürich and serves a Saturday brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All rooms can be reached by wheelchair, inductive hearing systems serve hearing-impaired guests, and guide dogs may stay with guests throughout a concert.