The new concert hall in Brno is to be designed by two international teams

Brno, Veselá Street - construction site of the underground parking lot, photo: RomanM82, WikimediaCommons

Brno - Two international teams will compete for the opportunity to design the Janáček Cultural Centre, a new concert hall in the center of Brno. According to the city leadership, the teams include world-class experts with experience from dozens of similar buildings. Four teams participated in the qualification round, but only two advanced to the competition round. PR manager of the project, Kateřina Konečná, stated this to ČTK today.

The winning team, consisting of an acoustician, architect, and designer, will propose the internal layout of the building, primarily the concert hall. An international element in the teams is essential. Spaces with similar parameters have not been created in the Czech Republic for over 100 years. However, the city required specific experience with the construction of concert halls as part of the competition conditions.

The first team was formed around Nagata Acoustic, which has contributed to nearly 60 halls, including the recently opened Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. The second member of the team is Polish architect Tomasz Konior. The trio is completed by Brno resident Petr Hrůša with his studio. He will ensure the authorizations and qualifications required by Czech law.

The foundation of the second group is a globally operating, originally British company Arup. In the competition, they demonstrated experience with halls in Wrocław, Aalborg, and Quebec. They are complemented by the Brno office ArchDesign.

The head of the qualification commission was city architect Michal Sedláček, who previously worked in Frank Gehry's team on the project and construction of the hall in Los Angeles. "It was a huge experience for me, and I am very glad that I can now apply it in my hometown of Brno," Sedláček stated.

In the competition round, the client will provide the documentation and receive price offers for the preparation of the necessary documentation. According to director Marie Kučerová, the Brno Philharmonic has already prepared its requirements for the orchestra's facilities, as well as for the stage and recording studio equipment.

The Philharmonic has long been performing and rehearsing under inadequate conditions. The new hall, with a capacity of over 1200 seats, will be located at the corner of Besední and Veselá streets. The total costs are expected to reach 1.276 billion crowns. The city’s effort is to start construction next year to ensure a smooth continuation of the construction of the underground garages.