Buildings that contain auditoriums generally need to be large in order to fit tiered seating inside. A recently completed concert hall in Blaibach, Germany, however, creates this tiered effect in a simpler way. The whole building slopes down towards the front of the performance space.
Konzerthaus Blaibach is one of a number of new buildings that have been built as part of the redevelopment of the town center. Architect Peter Haimerl, who also designed the town hall, says that the concert hall is central to the town center's revitalization.
The design looks very much like a large rectangular building that has been buried into the ground at one end. The exposed end rises above the ground leaving a gap so that visitors can descend the steps to the public spaces housed below it. These include the foyer, bar and toilets. From the foyer, it is possible to enter the auditorium itself.
The auditorium has a striking design, with large expanses of the pre-cast concrete from which the building is made and LED lights hidden behind slits in the walls and ceiling, creating. The room tapers slightly towards the performance area, sharpening the focus on the performers and helping to project sound towards the rear of the space (the tilted surfaces inside are designed specifically to improve the acoustics).
The auditorium features mesh seating that looks almost transparent, continuing the building's sense of simplicity. Outside the auditorium, on the other hand, wooden paneling is used on walls and ceilings to soften the stark concrete design.
Konzerthaus Blaibach was completed in September of this year. You can see more images of the building in the gallery.
Source: Peter Haimerl
