zaha hadid architects to build soundwave-inspired philharmonic concert hall in russia

zaha hadid architects has been selected by the jury of an international design competition to build the new sverdlovsk philharmonic concert hall in yekaterinburg, russia. echoing the physical aspects of sound waves, the design is based on the properties of musical sound resonance creating wave vibrations in a continuous smooth surface.

zaha hadid architects’ design re-interprets these physical acoustic properties to define spaces for the auditoria, which includes a 1,600-seat concert hall and a 400-seat chamber music hall. these spaces are nestled within the surface deformations of the suspended canopy, appearing to float above the new civic plaza that is both the lobby of the philharmonic concert hall and an enclosed urban square.

the lobby serves not only as an introduction to the world of symphony music, but also as a welcoming public plaza for all members of its local community. large glazed facades blur the boundary between interior and exterior; inviting visitors to experience the spaces within.

‘russia has been a formative influence on zaha hadid architects’ creative work‘, says christos passas, project director at zaha hadid architects. ‘from very early in her career, zaha was attracted to the russian avant-garde who conceived civic spaces as urban condensers that catalyze a public realm of activity to enrich creativity and community; allowing space itself to enhance our understanding and well-being. these principles are embedded within the design of the new sverdlovsk philharmonic concert hall.’

zaha hadid architects was selected from 47 international teams who submitted proposals. the design competition was organized by the ministry of construction and infrastructure development of the sverdlovsk region, with the assistance of the charitable foundation for support of the ural philharmonic orchestra.

the existing sverdlovsk philharmonic building dates back to 1936 and is very well attended throughout the year. the orchestra’s new home seeks to provide an inspirational venue to meet the increasing popularity of the orchestra’s program of concerts — and also create a new public plaza for the city.

project info:

architect: zaha hadid architects (ZHA)

ZHA principal: patrik schumacher

ZHA design director: christos passas

ZHA project architect: alessio costantino

ZHA design lead: ben kikkawa, melhem sfeir, zsuzsanna barat, afsoon es haghi

ZHA design team: duo chen, christina christodoulidou, anna uborevich-borovskaya, ekaterina smirnova, aleksandar bursac, alicia hidalgo lopez, maria-eleni bali, eckart schwerdtfeger, maria avrami, valeria perco, sattor jabbor

ZHA senior interior designer: sonia renehan

ZHA cultural researcher: vera kichanova

ZHA administrator: nastasija hahonina

ZHA project consultant: liudmila harrison-jones

ZHA graphic design: silviya barzakova

ZHA videography: henry virgin

local architect: SPEECH (moscow); sergey tchoban, marina kuznetskaya, daria demidova

structural engineering: AKT II (london); daniel bosia

MEP engineering: atelier 10 (london); meredith davey, ivan jovanovich, piers watts-jones, younha rhee

façade engineering: OPTIMISE (london); scott cahill, adam willetts, tim macfarlane (glass light and special structure)

landscape design: ARTEZA (moscow); irina chebanenko

theatre consultant: theatre projects (london); david staples, dave agnes

acoustic engineering design: marshall-day (melbourne, hong kong); peter fearnside, peter exton, thomas scelo

lighting design: OVI (new york); enrique peininger, jean sundin and markus fuerderer