Zaha Hadid Architects has won the international competition to design the Sverdlovsk Philharmonic Concert hall at Yekaterinburg, Russia. ZHA competed against entries from 47 other countries to design the home of the region’s Philharmonic. The competition was organized by the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure Development of the Sverdlovsk Region, aided by the charitable foundation for support of the rural philharmonic orchestra. Finally, the jury chose ZHA’s $4.6 million design as the winner.
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Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects
Yekaterinburg is known to have a rich culture, with art and music. The acclaimed Ural Philharmonic Orchestra has given performances in over 20 countries and has collaborated with artists worldwide. It has a dedicated and passionate society of music lovers in Russia and abroad, who have their own foundation.
The design of the Concert Hall was to achieve two goals: provide an inspirational venue for innumerable new and old orchestra lovers and create an urban space for the people. ZHA has beautifully captured both these aspects in their design for the concert hall.
Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects
“The properties of musical sound resonance creating wave vibrations in a continuous smooth surface” were reinterpreted to create the form of the concert hall. The auditoria hover above a public plaza, in a suspended canopy. Besides acting as an enclosed urban square, the plaza doubles as a lobby of the Philharmonic Concert Hall. It introduces people to the world of orchestral music while serving as a public space for the locals.
The use of glazing blurs the gap between the outside and inside. Furthermore, the glass invites people to come inside and enjoy the different spaces as well as the renovated gardens and amphitheaters.
Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects
There is, also, the rooftop terrace of the hall which gives breathtaking views of the surroundings and the Church of All Saints. All such sheltered public spaces have been designed to become the focus of Yekaterinburg’s cultural, musical, and social life. The Auditoria has two separate halls—a 1600 seater Concert Hall and a 400 seater Chamber Music Hall. Both are designed with the highest acoustic standards.
Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects
“Russia has been a formative influence on Zaha Hadid architects’ creative work”, says Christos Passas, Project Director at ZHA, “From very early in her career, Zaha was attracted to the Russian avant-garde who conceived civic spaces as urban condensers that catalyze a public realm of activity to enrich creativity and community; allowing space itself to enhance our understanding and well-being. These principles are embedded within the design of the new Sverdlovsk Philharmonic concert hall.”
The preservation and renovation of the existing building from 1936 is also a part of the design. Surrounded by heritage structures and Weiner Gardens, the Sverdlovsk Philharmonic Concert Hall is due to be completed in five years.