The South Czech Philharmonic Concert Hall gets a second, minimalist life | Concrete Ideas
10 January 2022
Text:
Paula Erizanu
Originally designed as a church, the South Czech Philharmonic (Jihočeská filharmonie) concert hall in České Budějovice has just been given a new life thanks to an elegant, contemporary renovation by local architecture studio, A800.
The 17th century church, called St Anne, has been used as a concert hall since 1988.
Embracing a minimalist aesthetic, the architects kept the colour scheme simple, opting for natural wood and monochrome. While most of the interior is white, the wall behind the organ was painted black for dramatic effect, with the stripes on the wall directly opposite intended to mimic the pattern of the organ tubes.
The elegant white oval-shaped panels that hang from the ceiling have a special function — ensuring the best acoustics for the space. As the architects acknowledged, the design of these panels is a nod to the original vaulted ceiling.
“Our main idea was to bring back the history of the concert hall, the original shape and simplicity, while ensuring the best musical experience for the audience,” the A800 team added.
The Jihočeská Philharmonic was founded in 1981 and comprises 39 music players performing classical music.
Get a virtual tour of the building here.
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