Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, U.S.A.

The curving, glittery concert hall in the city's downtown was completed in 2003. It took 16 years to complete, required over 30,000 architectural drawings.

Size: 293,000 square feet (27,000 square meters)

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  • Architect:  Frank Gehry
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  • Acoustics: Yasuhisa Toyota of Nagata Acoustics

 

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  • The swooping, shimmering stainless steel curves shine in the sun in quick flashes, throwing reflections of nearby buildings among the shadows.
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  • The upper parts stretch up toward the sky, while the lower parts bend down toward passersby.

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  • The curved exterior corridors circumscribing the building create unique spatial experiences.
  • A sculptural rose blossoms in the garden of the Disney Concert Hall.
  • There are dramatic skylights in the entry lobby. Undulating walls in the pre-concert foyer reach up to the roof, drawing light from one of the building’s 4 large skylights.
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  • The main auditorium has 2,265 seats. Concert hall seats upholstered with floral fabric were designed by Frank Gehry.
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A billowing wood ceiling hangs lightly over the space,
strategically lplaced to achieve the early sound reflection.
  • Sculpted Douglas fir and cedar are used in the rectangle shaped auditorium; swooping concave walls of staggered wood panels hold terraced seating in the “vineyard” layout. The audience surrounds the stage, which is elevated slightly higher than the adjacent orchestra seats.
 

The concert platform is composed of 13 stage lifts, each driven by an individual motor and capable of wide range of stage configurations. The lifts are operated by wireless computer technology with touch screen control that can be programmed in advance and controled by a single operator. These various stage configurations create the effective staging of everything from a huge orchestra to small ensemble groups.

  • A combination of the warm wood, the molded forms, and the resultant vibrancy of sound creates the perception of being inside a living sculpture whose pulse is music.
  • The mirror-like stainless steel exterior forms a stunning organic sculpture.
    • lThe rich wood interior allows musicians and listeners to dwell inside an instrument of exquisite craftsmanship, which is like enjoying music inside a gigantic modern sculpture.
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    Photo Credit: Tim Street-Porter, Tom Bonner, Federico Zignani, David C. Miller, B. Motion

    References:

    Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles: http://www.architectureweek.com/2003/1217/design_1-1.html

    http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/n/a/2005/03/01/state/n165901S33.DTL&o=0&type=printable

    Frank Gehry & his works: http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Frank_Gehry.html

    Nagata’s Acoustics: Concert Hall Acoustics from Conception to Performance--Comprehensive Acoustical Design and Consulting: http://www.architectureweek.com/cgi-bin/wlk?http://www.nagata.co.jp/english.htm

    Arup Acoustics: http://www.arup.com/acoustics/

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