Steven Holl Architects and Architecture Acts have won an international competition for a concert hall in Ostrava, Czech Republi
The winning proposal was supported by six out of seven members of the jury. One jury member Krzysztof Ingarden described the design in respect to its location, “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.”
Courtesy of Steven Holl Architects
The new 1,300 seat concert hall is sited adjacent to the existing House of Culture. The building was designed as a “perfect acoustic instrument in its case” in collaboration with Nagata Acoustics. The new building will provide performance space for the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, the leading Czech orchestra for commissioning contemporary music.
Urban traffic noise is shielded by positioning the hall facing the existing park on the building’s rear, while a new entrance on the promenade rises to glide over the top of the existing historical House of Culture in a sky-lit lobby for the new hall.
Courtesy of Steven Holl Architects
A dramatic complimentary contrast between new and old creates 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.
Courtesy of Steven Holl Architects
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.
1. Znici = sounding
2. Citaci = counting
3. Scolovac = summing
Courtesy of Steven Holl Architects
About the winning design, jury member Rafi Segal said, “It’s not the size of the building, but the importance and significance of it.”
The Ostrava Concert hall is expected to open in 2023.
Competition team
Architect: Steven Holl Architects
Steven Holl (principal)
Dimitra Tsachrelia (project architect)
Lirong Tan (design team)
Sarah Schlegelmilch (design team)
Paul Hazelet (design team)
Associate architects: Architecture Acts
Hana Petrikova (principal)
Martin Kropac (principal)
Klara Zugarova (design team)
Miarianna Antoniadou (design team)
Hana Hucikova (design team)
Tiziana Tasca (design team)
Alessia Capone (design team)
David Lasek (design team)
Acoustical consultant: Nagata Acoustics
Structural engineer: Silman Structural Engineers
Sustainability: TRANSSOLAR Energietechnik GmbH
Theatre consultant: Theatre Consultants Collaborative
Traffic: Jan Fiala
