Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) Partners with AFRY to Design Prague’s New Vltava Philharmonic Hall

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) Partners with AFRY to Design Prague’s New Vltava Philharmonic Hall

(IN BRIEF) The renowned Danish architectural firm, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), has selected AFRY as the general designer and local architect for the upcoming Prague concert building, known as the Vltava Philharmonic Hall. BIG’s design, which triumphed in an international architectural competition organized by the city of Prague, aims to transform the space near the hall by opening up the scenic Vltava embankment for public use. The Vltava Philharmonic Hall will serve as a cultural center housing the Czech Philharmonic and the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK, offering not only world-class music but also a series of accessible public spaces, terraces, and colonnades connecting the riverbank to the roof, making it an inclusive destination for all. Additionally, AFRY is collaborating on a comprehensive transportation solution for the area, ensuring easy access by metro, trams, cars, buses, taxis, bicycles, river ferry, and train. This project marks Prague’s first dedicated concert hall for symphonic music in over a century, promising to enrich the city’s cultural landscape with modern architecture and musical richness.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 13-Nov-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — The Danish Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) studio has chosen AFRY as the general designer and local architect of the new Prague concert building. The design by the Danish architects won a prestigious international architectural competition launched by the capital city of Prague last year.

Located in the capital of the Czech Republic, the Vltava Philharmonic Hall is envisioned to become a national cultural centre for the public. This remarkable project deals with the design of the concert building itself and transforms the space in the vicinity of the hall by opening the poetic Vltava embankment for visitors.

“Any metropolis, be it Paris or New York, needs to maintain a vibrant city centre. It’s important that Prague also continues to develop its richness and colour, which are musical in nature, and allows it to bring in another layer in the form of modern architecture. We are honoured to be able to contribute to this,” says BIG.

The Vltava Philharmonic Hall will become a home to two orchestras – the Czech Philharmonic and the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK. Both orchestras will find their residences and educational facilities in the new centre. With a geometry rising from the Vltava River to the Prague skyline, the design of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall includes a series of public spaces, sloping colonnades and accessible terraces leading from the riverbank to the roof. These will make the concert centre accessible to all visitors, not just listeners of classical music.

Hand in hand with the concert centre, preparations for a challenging transport solution for the entire city area have been taking place. Therefore, the designers of AFRY work also on a complex solution that provides for transport by metro, trams, cars, buses, taxis, bicycles, river ferry and train.

“We greatly appreciate the fact that BIG, which is a world leader in the field, has chosen us as its main partner to cooperate on designing a modern architectural symbol of Czech music. The project will provide Prague with its first concert hall dedicated to symphonic music in more than a century,” says Ivo Šimek, Country Manager Czech Republic and Slovakia, AFRY.

AFRY provides engineering, design, digital and advisory services to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society. We are 19,000 devoted experts in industry, energy and infrastructure sectors, creating impact for generations to come. AFRY has Nordic roots with a global reach, net sales of 24 BSEK and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

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Media Contacts:

Anna Magni
Head of Communications, Infrastructure, AFRY
+46 10 505 39 74
anna.magni@afry.com

Ivo Šimek
Country Manager Czech Republic and Slovakia, AFRY
+420 60 271 51 94, ivo.simek@afry.com

SOURCE: AFRY