Ostrava sets its sights on world class music with new concert hall. Watch the exclusive document

The City of Ostrava will soon join the ranks of European and international centers of culture. That’s because work is underway in the Moravian-Silesian metropolis on a new concert hall comparable to the world’s most prestigious venues such as the Elbe Philharmonic in Hamburg, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Paris Philharmonic, or the Harpa in Reykjavik. The new building for 1,300 concertgoers will be deftly integrated with the current Culture Center designed by architect Jaroslav Fragner. The design was created by leading American architect Steven Holl and his studio in New York together with the Czech studio Architecture Acts.
The main concept of the design focuses on the harmonic integration of the new hall with the historical Culture Center. “The best solution we came up with for the competition was to take advantage of the park's quiet character and locate the concert hall there for acoustic reasons, but at the same time to create visual contact with the busy boulevard in front," explains Martin Kropáč.
The concert hall is designed based on the “vineyard” concept, where the stage is located in the middle and the audience is closer to the performers. “This hall has a more intimate feel with better parameters for top quality acoustics. From the beginning we have been working with one of the best acoustic engineers in the world, Mr. Toyota from Nagata Acoustics, who has already worked on a number of outstanding halls,” says Martin Kropáč.
The hall’s excellent acoustics are due to curved areas that act as reflective surfaces. “We sought various ways to cover the curved surfaces with wood. We used maple, which contrasts greatly with the industrial steel construction of the hall's sheath," says Martin Kropáč.
Martin Kropáč believes that the new concert hall will not only provide an adequate facility for the Janáček Philharmonic, but will also attract performers who would not normally come to the Czech Republic. “We feel a great responsibility for the project, which is important for Ostrava, the region, and the entire Czech Republic,” concludes Martin Kropáč.