German practice kadawittfeldarchitektur’s design brings “harmony between [the] new hall and its surroundings” with a curvilinear banded volume that rises upwards like a dramatic cloud. Inside, the architects inverted the building’s exterior shape and created a vineyard-style amphitheater concert hall that sinks down into the ground.
In contrast to kadawittfeldarchitektur’s proposal, British architect Chipperfield envisioned the concert hall as a series of cuboidal structures made from white spun concrete supports. The crystalline form was inspired by the site’s medieval town-wall history and its transition to an important cultural hub. The concert hall, which is located at the heart of the complex, is lined with grained walnut veneer walls.
Luxemburg-based Valentiny hvp architects created a wave-shaped volume with glazed ends that overlook the Rhine River on one side and the cityscape on the other. The crested forms are repeated inside, where organic, free-flowing shapes replace traditional angular forms. Banded skylights filter natural light into the building.
Related: Anish Kapoor and Arata Isozaki Unveil the World’s First Inflatable Concert Hall
These top three finalists beat out the proposals of other high-profile design firms including Zaha Hadid Architects, UNStudio, and Snohetta. The Beethoven music hall is planned for completion in 2019.
+ Beethoven Festspielhaus
+ David Chipperfield Architects
+ kadawittfeldarchitektur
+ Valentiny hvp architects
Via ArchDaily
Images via Beethoven Festspielhaus
