Steven Holl Architects + Architecture Acts to design “encased” concert hall in Czech Republic

A new 1,300-seat concert hall designed by Steven Holl Architects and Prague-based associate architect Architecture Acts is being planned for the city of Ostrava in the Czech Republic. Six out of seven judges selected the team's proposal as the winner in an international design competition. Ostrava Mayor Zdeněk Macura made the winning announcement.

Designed in collaboration with Nagata Acoustics, the concert hall is envisioned as a “perfect acoustic instrument in its case”. If all goes smoothly and the project is built, it will house the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, the leading Czech orchestra for commissioning contemporary music. The concert hall is currently scheduled to open in 2023.

The concert hall faces the existing park on the building's rear so that it will be shielded from surrounding urban traffic noise. Gliding over the top of the existing historic Cultural Center is a new entrance on the promenade that includes a sky-lit lobby. “A dramatic complimentary contrast between new and old creates a cultural landmark for Ostrava,” SHA describes.

“The smooth case of zinc holds an ‘instrument’ in an extended vineyard-type plan made of concrete and maple wood,” SHA writes. “Czech composer Leoš Janáček’s theories of time will guide and give order to the concert hall's interior geometry.”

The acoustic wall panels are organized according to three variants of scasovani, or rhythm:  “Znici = sounding; Citaci = counting'; and Scolovac = summing”, the team adds.

“It’s not the size of the building, but the importance and significance of it,” jury member Rafi Segal said about the winning design in a statement.

“It is a fantastic piece of architecture considering very well the relationship between the City of Ostrava and the park behind the existing building. I believe the winning project will be an emblematic piece of architecture for Ostrava revitalizing the city as well,” jury member Krzysztof Ingarden said.

The Ostrava concert hall is just one of SHA's recent competition-winning proposals, which include the iCarbonX headquarters in Shenzhen and the University College Dublin's Centre for Creative Design and Entrance Precinct Masterplan, to name a few.

Find more project drawings in the gallery below.