The Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic in Szczecin
Not only is the Philharmonic building at ul. Małopolska 48 in Szczecin a temple of music and geometry, but it is also an outstanding architectural project that breathes a new meaning into sound and light. Here, various fields of art, music and design combine thanks to the form.
The building is unique in many respects. Architects made efforts to take into account the context in which the project was to be imbued. The building is distinguished by boldness and lightness, while at the same time forming a coherent line with the surrounding neo-Gothic buildings. In addition, the building has excellent acoustic parameters and enormous lighting possibilities. The white facade of the Philharmonic can shine with many colors in different configurations. This opportunity was first used during the first edition of the MUSIC.DESIGN.FORM festival in September 2018.
It is enough to cross the threshold of the building to enter a world of design not at all associated with typical philharmonic edifices. The bold architectural solutions do have an excellent effect on the sound quality. The Symphony Hall, known as the Sun Hall, can accommodate nearly 1,000 people, and the special geometry of walls and ceilings were developed by architects together with specialists in the field of architectural acoustics to provide an excellent musical experience. The Chamber Hall, for about 200 people, is referred to as a "musical pearl". The reverberation time within has been reduced to one hundredth of a second.
The Philharmonic in Szczecin is not just about its concert halls. The building also has many spaces that perform a variety of roles on a daily basis, and during the festival they changed their function. This will also happen during the second edition, when audioluminescence will lead audiences to the unobvious corners of the ice palace.
In 2015, a year after the opening, the building of the Philharmonic in Szczecin, as the first and the only one in Poland, received the prestigious European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture, the Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Award. It is also known as the architectural Nobel prize and regarded as one of the most prestigious architectural awards in Europe.
It is enough to cross the threshold of the building to enter a world of design not at all associated with typical philharmonic edifices. The bold architectural solutions do have an excellent effect on the sound quality. The Symphony Hall, known as the Sun Hall, can accommodate nearly 1,000 people, and the special geometry of walls and ceilings were developed by architects together with specialists in the field of architectural acoustics to provide an excellent musical experience. The Chamber Hall, for about 200 people, is referred to as a "musical pearl". The reverberation time within has been reduced to one hundredth of a second.
The Philharmonic in Szczecin is not just about its concert halls. The building also has many spaces that perform a variety of roles on a daily basis, and during the festival they changed their function. This will also happen during the second edition, when audioluminescence will lead audiences to the unobvious corners of the ice palace.
In 2015, a year after the opening, the building of the Philharmonic in Szczecin, as the first and the only one in Poland, received the prestigious European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture, the Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Award. It is also known as the architectural Nobel prize and regarded as one of the most prestigious architectural awards in Europe.
fot. Wojciech Grzędziński
fot. Wojciech Grzędziński
fot. Wojciech Grzędziński
fot. Wojciech Grzędziński