World context

What will be the position of Ostrava on the cultural map of Europe and which other world cities already have their modern architectural landmarks?

A watercolour sketch by architect Steven Holl showing his architectural intention. The construction will get Ostrava on the map of Europe among culturally significant cities.

Hamburg, Germany

An eighteen-story building on the roof of an old warehouse has sprung up in one of Europe's busiest ports. This is a relatively radical concept with the longest arc escalator in the world. The idea to build a concert hall in the old shipyard originated in 2001. The construction itself began in 2007 and was completed ten years later. The grand opening took place on 10 January 2017. The architects uniquely managed to connect the old building with a new, modern extension, whose gleaming glass facade at the top extends to spikes like the ridges of sea waves.

Szczecin, Poland

The Szczecin Philharmonic was opened on 5 September 2014 and it has been the seat of the local symphony orchestra since then. Immediately after its opening, it became an icon of this seventh largest city in Poland. The modern façade, which is sometimes translucent and sometimes glowing, contrasts with the historic buildings, but overall it fits organically in, matching the city rhythm and layout.

Reykjavik, Island

Harpa is considered one of the symbols of the capital of Iceland. It can be found near the port of Reykjavik on the Atlantic Ocean. This is the first purpose-built concert hall in Iceland, so its technical and artistic form has been consulted with international artists and consultants. Today, the building is home to the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and the offices of the Icelandic Opera.

Bilbao, Spain

Frank Gehry's buildings attract tourists from all over the world, they are unique and unrepeatable. In the first 3 years alone, the museum was visited by 4 million tourists and made a profit of 500 million Euros. This has had a positive effect on hotels, restaurants, shops and urban transport, with more than € 100 million collected in taxes. Architecture has become an unprecedented investment with a return within just a few years.

Katowice, Poland

The city of Katowice in Poland, with the population of 300,000 people, has had a unique space for music production since 1 October 2014. The project of the seat of the Polish National Radio Orchestra was created by Konior Studio of the architect Tomasz Konior, with Nagata Acoustics in charge of the acoustics of the hall. The building has a generous background, excellent acoustics and in addition to two halls, there is also a top recording studio, which is connected to both halls. According to many experts, the hall is one of the most modern concert halls in Europe.