There are numerous casinos in Europe that can look back on a long history but still keep their finger on the pulse of the times. The Grand Casino Baden in the eponymous town in the Swiss canton of Aargau is undoubtedly one of the best-known representatives of this genre in the German-speaking world. It is about to celebrate an important anniversary. However, there is a serious structural problem: the ceiling in the listed Kursaal building is in danger of collapsing and cannot be replaced without further ado.

The Swiss casino Grand Casino Baden is one of the most prestigious gambling centres in Europe. It stands for a special combination of tradition and innovation.

Founded in 1884, the casino has developed over the decades into one of the top addresses for gambling and social events in Switzerland. Situated in the heart of Baden in the canton of Aargau, the listed Kursaal building with its magnificent ceiling is a key feature of the townscape. The Grand Casino Baden has always seen itself as a future-orientated traditional establishment and does everything in its power to meet the demands of the modern gaming market. With new game formats, clever events and the associated online casino Jackpots.ch, it aims to provide its guests with a comprehensive and contemporary range of games. The digital platform also enables the establishment to effectively attract younger generations and keep pace with the changing industry. This innovative spirit is complemented by an international expansion strategy: in addition to another location in Locarno, in the south of Switzerland, Stadtcasino Baden AG has even acquired a stake in a casino in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, near Halle, thereby expanding its influence in the DACH region.

But just at a time when the casino and Kursaal, where the majority of the gaming tables are located today, is approaching its 150th anniversary, structural problems are casting a shadow over the historic backdrop: According to experts, the ceiling is showing ‘extensive signs of corrosion’ which indicates a risk of collapse. It requires urgent safety measures, but these are proving to be complicated due to monument protection. Incidentally, the Berlin casino on Potsdamer Platz has just celebrated its 26th birthday and the Bad Oeynhausen casino is celebrating its anniversary with a celebrity line-up.

The impending instability of the Kursaal poses a rather special dilemma. The architectural heritage requires restoration with the greatest possible consideration for the surviving substance. At the same time, the safety of visitors is paramount. For the casino, which is regarded as a pioneer of the Swiss gambling scene, this challenge means walking a tightrope between preservation and modernisation - a task that demands not only engineers and architects, but also heritage protection authorities.

Celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Kursaal jeopardised by ‘considerable security risk’?

Plans for the restoration of the Kursaal in the Grand Casino Baden, a historic jewel of Swiss gaming, have been underway for some time. The aim of the renovation plans is to emphasise the architectural features of the building, which was constructed in 1874, while at the same time fulfilling the functional requirements of modern gaming operations.

  1. After the city council approved the planning application a few weeks ago, an intensive analysis of the building's structure revealed an unexpected and worrying picture.
  2. Beneath the Hofmann ceiling, which was installed in the 1950s, lies the so-called Völkid ceiling, whose dilapidated condition now calls the safety of the entire building into question.
  3. This historic ceiling shows extensive signs of corrosion, which could pose a direct threat to the stability of the building.

Structural engineers therefore recommend completely removing the damaged ceiling and replacing it with a modern construction that fulfils the necessary safety standards and also meets fire protection requirements (conditions that the current ceiling construction can no longer meet).

  • As the current structure of the roof truss does not offer sufficient fire resistance, the addition of a mezzanine floor is being considered. However, this measure would not only provide protection in the event of a fire, but could also be used as office space for the administrative staff of Stadtcasino Baden AG. According to those responsible, this would also make sense from an economic perspective.
  • The particular challenge with this project lies in the listed status of the Kursaal. The planned suspended ceiling represents a major intervention in the historic architecture of the hall. The operator therefore had to come up with a solution that would fulfil the requirements of monument preservation: the installation of a removable steel structure with composite concrete panels. This innovative method would actually make it possible to remove the mezzanine floor in the future (should this become necessary) and at the same time preserve the architectural heritage of the Kursaal.

For Grand Casino Baden AG, this is not just a question of securing the building, but a contribution to the preservation of a unique cultural asset that is of great value to the casino and the city alike. The celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Kursaal should not be jeopardised. Nevertheless, the enormously increased costs are clearly visible even to laymen.

The celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the Kursaal

On 13 May 2025, the historic Kursaal in Baden will celebrate its 150th anniversary - an occasion that Bäderverein Baden is honouring with an extensive celebratory programme. The festivities will kick off with a book presentation that takes up the history of the Kursaal in all its facets. The publisher Hier und Jetzt is publishing a richly illustrated work that sheds light on the Kursaal from an architectural, cultural and economic perspective. From 28 August 2025, the Historisches Museum Baden will present an anniversary exhibition that pays tribute to the Kursaal as the museum's place of origin. From May 2025 to spring 2026, the anniversary year will be rounded off with numerous cultural events, including the festive gala concert by the Neue Kurkapelle Baden on 19 October 2025 in the Kurtheater.

Conclusion

The forthcoming measures at the Grand Casino Baden represent a complex balancing act. The risk of the historic ceiling collapsing requires a careful balance to be struck between the high safety requirements, economic interests and the preservation of the cultural heritage. A permanent solution that preserves both the listed building and the operational use of the Kursaal as a theatre and event venue will not only be technically demanding, but also costly. However, Stadtcasino Baden AG's willingness to invest shows how important this location is for the company. The attractive income and the importance of the Kursaal as the casino's flagship obviously justify the considerable outlay: a clear sign that maintaining this unique building and adapting it to modern standards is likely to be worthwhile for the operator in the long term. Also interesting: In the summer, we reported that the renowned Casino Monte-Carlo was setting sail.

Image source: Screenshot von https://www.grandcasinobaden.ch/ueber-grand-casino-baden/ueber-uns/geschichte

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