Steven Holl in collaboration with Architecture Acts has won an international competition for the design of a new 1,300-seat concert hall in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Designed as “a perfect acoustic instrument in its case”, the project was chosen by six of the seven-person jury. The new concert hall will be sited next to the existing House of Culture and its main hall will be positioned close to an existing park at the building’s rear, while a new entrance on the promenade rises to glide over the top of the existing historical Cultural Center in a sky-lit lobby for the new hall. The dramatic contrast between both of the buildings, old and new, will create a cultural landmark for Ostrava.
The smooth case of zinc holds an “instrument” in an extended vineyard-type plan made of concrete and maple wood. Czech composer, Leoš Janáček’s theories of time will guide and give order to the concert hall’s interior geometry. Acoustic wall panels are organized according to scasovani, or rhythm, in three variants: “Znici” (sounding), “Scitaci” (counting), and “Scelovac” (summing).
Krzysztof Ingarden, a jury member, said about the project, “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.”
The new building will open in 2023 and will provide performance space for the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, the leading Czech orchestra for commissioning contemporary music.
