Concert hall, Pannonhalma

Pannonhalma, Hungary

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Concert hall, Pannonhalma

Pannonhalma, Hungary

Firm

Robert Gutowski Architects

Type

Cultural › Hall/Theater

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2016

SIZE

0 sqft - 1000 sqft

BUDGET

$1M - 5M

International artistic events organized by the Pannonhalma Archabbey, Unesco World Heritage, and the need for strengthening pilgrim tourism set out new tasks in the community. There has long been the idea that a recital hall should be available for visitors. With the handover of a new basketball hall completed in 2014, the use of the school’s former gymnasium ended. The former room is closely related to the main entrance of the Abbey buildings but is also rather distinctive and has its own entrance; therefore, it seemed to be an ideal place for the design of a new concert hall.

The space is suitable for holding smallscale chamber music concerts. The high ceiling required for chamber music was accomplished by deepening the former gymnasium. Optimal reverberation time of the space is mainly determined by the volume, shape, and proportions of the hall. Based on control measurements, frequencydependent reverberation time in the reconstructed hall is extremely constant in the entire audible range, and the type of decay is also ideal. Moreover, an important element of the hall’s excellent sounding is the high diffusivity of the space, guaranteed by the uniquely designed ash wood panelling. Constant sound energy supply is also supported by a banded beech ceiling, broken design of the sidewalls, optimization of reflective, diffuser, and sound absorbing surfaces, builtin membrane surfaces, and carefully designed seats. The unique layer composition of the stage serves for the harmonic acoustical environment of performing artists. The floors are made of oak. Technical facilities, professional lighting, sound, and audiovisual systems, and a digital cinema add further opportunities to the use of the hall, and the environment temperable also in the summer as well the 268 unique seats provide adequate comfort. Around the stage, an additional 132 seats were constructed.