Studio BIG will deliver the architectural study of the Vltava Philharmonic in February

Prague - The Danish studio Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) will present the architectural study of the Vltava Philharmonic in February, based on which project work for construction permits is expected to begin. This should lead to its commencement within three years. The study expands on the competition design with which BIG won an international competition a year and a half ago. The founder and creative director of BIG, Bjarke Ingels, introduced the current status of the study at a press conference in Prague today.

"The detailed architectural study is a crucial milestone for us. It will allow the actual design work and obtaining all the necessary permits needed to start construction in 2027," stated Martin Krupauer, the head of the Vltava Philharmonic project team, who is managing the project for the capital city.

The Vltava Philharmonic building is expected to open in 2032. The city will pay approximately one billion crowns for project preparation. According to the latest estimate, the construction should cost 9.4 billion crowns, but according to information from the Aktuálně.cz website, it may increase to nearly 13 billion crowns due to adjustments to the surroundings. The city intends to secure state funding for the construction and is also considering involving private investors.

Refinements to the competition design of the Vltava Philharmonic, worked on by hundreds of experts from around the world, resulted in several changes. For example, the main hall has been modified to provide better sightlines and acoustics, and adjustments were made to achieve optimal acoustic conditions for the orchestra's rehearsal room. Additionally, escalators were added for better public access to the roof, the school hall was adjusted with improved acoustics and natural light, and the building's design allows for better connection with the waterfront and viaduct.

"The Vltava Philharmonic is composed like a meandering path from the riverbank to the rooftop terrace. Streams of the public and Prague's belvedere squares connect city life with music at its heart. Prague's halls are created as visually dominant spaces, fine-tuned for sound, functionally orchestrated to connect people. From this rhythmic structure, a symphony of colonnades and balconies emerges as a platform for public life. Both expressive and pragmatic, the new philharmonic will become a key landmark for Prague. From the river to the roof," described the architectural study Bjarke Ingels.

The Vltava Philharmonic will house two orchestras - the Czech Philharmonic and the Symphony Orchestra of the Capital City of Prague FOK. Both orchestras will find residential spaces and facilities for their educational programs for the public here. The building will also include a music department and a creative hub of the City Library of Prague. Visitors can look forward to a café or a rooftop restaurant. "The Vltava Philharmonic will not only be a new concert hall; it will primarily become an open cultural and educational center serving the public," noted the Deputy Mayor of Prague for Territorial Development, Petr Hlaváček (STAN).

The construction of the new cultural center by the Vltava is part of the transformation of the Bubny-Zátory area, where the city plans to create a quarter for up to 25,000 people. The director of BIG, Ingels, personally introduced the architectural study on January 24 at the Center for Architecture and Urban Planning during the Urban Talks lecture. The public will be able to familiarize themselves with new visualizations, a video with views from the building's roof, or the 3D reality project until February 18 at CAMP as part of an exhibition dedicated to the Vltava Philharmonic.