La Coupole de Biel/Bienne

One of my favorite spots in Biel/Bienne

A must-see place in Bienne

The Coupole of Biel/Bienne is a cultural complex located in the city of Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. It is a dome-shaped building, constructed in 1933 to house an exhibition and performance hall.

About this building

The building was designed by Swiss architect Fritz Baumgartner in the Art Deco style. It measures approximately 60 meters in diameter, with a height ranging from 18 to 35 meters. The Coupole of Biel/Bienne is a unique example of interwar industrial architecture.

Since its construction, the Coupole has been used for a variety of cultural events, including concerts, exhibitions, fairs, conferences, and dance performances. The building was renovated in 2006 and is now considered one of the most important cultural venues in the region.

The Coupole de Biel/Bienne in pictures

The different names of the coupole

1. Biel/Bienne Expo 
2. Expo 03
3. la halle des expositions
4. le dôme de Biel/Bienne
5. Chessu in swiss German
6. or simply “la Coupole”

Key dates in the history of the Coupole

1933 : Construction of the Coupole is completed.
1936 : The Coupole hosts the Swiss Machine Tool Exhibition.
1954 : The Coupole is used as a concert hall for the first time.
1983 : The Coupole is designated as a historical monument.
1998 : The Coupole is acquired by the city of Biel/Bienne.
2001 : The city of Biel/Bienne decides to renovate the Coupole to transform it into a modern cultural and event center.
2003 : The Coupole serves as a main venue for Expo.02, the Swiss national exhibition.

These dates represent only a small part of the history of the Coupole of Biel/Bienne.

A curious fact about the Coupole

A curious fact about the Coupole of Biel/Bienne is that it was used as a set for the Swiss science fiction film “Cargo,” released in 2009. The director, Ivan Engler, chose the Coupole to represent a space station in the film because its unique architecture and dome made it an ideal location to create the illusion of a human habitat in space.

The scenes were filmed both inside and outside the Coupole, with special effects added later to create the illusion of space. This use of the Coupole in a science fiction film has added to its status as an iconic and versatile cultural building.

The dimensions of the Coupole

• Diameter : about 60 meters
• Height : varies bewtween 18 and 35 meters
• Interior area: approximately 2,000 square meters
• The dome of the Coupole is supported by a steel structure, which is covered with a corrugated metal roof.