BIG was Selected to Design National Philharmonic Hall in Prague.

The city of Prague has unveiled the design for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall, which will become the first national concert hall in over 100 years. The Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) was selected from 19 anonymous global entries, including invited proposals from renowned firms such as Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Snøhetta, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, David Chipperfield Architects, and SANAA. 

The Vltava Philharmonic Hall will be home to the world-class philharmonic, accommodating more than 1800 audiences and celebrating the Czech music tradition, positioning the country as a cultural capital in Europe. Located at the intersection of the Vltava riverfront and Prague's Cultural Mile, the Vltava Philharmonic Hall will connect the traditional cultural scene of the Old Town with the modern art scene of the Holešovice neighbourhood. 

The new concert hall will become a new civic heart for Prague and the surrounding public realm. The hall is designed to extend horizontally and vertically in all directions to create key urban connections and form a recognizable landmark for the surrounding communities near and far. The contemporary design of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall is a cascade of outdoor destinations from the waterfront on the river to the city's iconic skyline, composed of a three-dimensional public space that is a part musical instrument, part logistical machine, part topography, and part sculpture. 

The building's undulating stepped roofs allow visitors to meander to the summit of the building as if climbing a hill. The slender vertical colonnades support the building's roof terraces while undersides of warm timber from the Bohemian Forest provide shade and shelter. The grand foyer of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall is inspired by Czech glass artists and leads guests into the music venues. The more versatile Prague and Holešovice Halls or the main concert venue The Vltava Hall will bring a contemporary music experience to Prague. 

The Prague Hall's seats are arranged as petals of a pinecone turned inside out and rotated within the compactness of a perfect square. The seating rakes meet at their corners to allow physical connectivity between every seat in the audience, providing a greater sense of unity and shared experience. The Vltava Philharmonic Hall is crafted to maximize its potential to host external uses and special events. The venues are designed to maximize flexibility for a range of uses, from contemporary music styles to theatre performances and digital exhibitions. At the summit of the building, an elegant hyperboloid volume floats above the public space, featuring a glass facade that allows visitors to see into the hall and the city. 

The design of the hall is expressive yet pragmatic, ascending to form a key landmark for Prague, from the river to the roof. Bjarke Ingels, Founder & Partner of BIG, said that this project is important to him as an architect and as a Dane. He added that the architect Jørn Utzon is a national hero in Denmark, less for the work he got to realize at home, but more for his work on the Sydney Opera House on the other side of the planet. He hopes that this project can grow to become a beloved space for the citizens of the Czech Republic and a welcome addition to the iconic silhouette of the city of Prague. The new Vltava Philharmonic Hall will be a symbol of openness, accessibility, and exploration. 

The public spaces connect and allow activities to spill in and out of the building on every side, towards the river, the square, the street, and the alley. Visitors are drawn in by all forms of arrival, with carefully chosen programs inviting them to explore the music venues inside or climb the elegant, arced roofs of the hall. The Vltava Philharmonic

 

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Cover image by Mozses, courtesy of  BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group