A full-sized, classical performance venue seating more than 2,000 people, the Lotte Concert Hall is located on the roof of the Lotte World Mall.
The concert hall is the first new venue of its kind in Seoul built in the last 25 years, and has been recognized as one of the foremost classical performance venues in Asia, with world-class acoustics and sumptuous interiors. Designed in the vineyard style (referencing its terraced appearance), the seating completely surrounds the stage to provide the audience with an immersive experience.
The swelling form of the Concert Hall is a reaction to the curves that surround it-- the subtle lines of the tower, the scoop of public plaza below, and the rounded corners of the adjacent cinema tower. Breaking from the more orthogonal resolution of those areas, the swelling exterior shell of the concert hall is more sensual and less linear than the other nearby forms. Arches cutouts of vertical glass wall interrupt the form, echoing the curves of the hall's interior and amplifying the idea of the exterior as a shell or cocoon for the musical performances.
Vibration control emerged as a major design challenge for the Hall, given its location on top of another structure, which itself is adjacent to one of the city's metro lines. A box-in-a-box system completely separating the internal structure of the Hall (floor, walls, and ceiling) from the external structure emerged as the most viable solution for eliminating outside vibration and noise. Given the range of performance types-- from solo pieces to symphonies-- the Hall includes several elements that allow it to provide the optimal sound for a given performer, including a round-type stage lift to alter the height of the stage and an acoustic banner allowing for adjustment of the reverb.
Credits:
- Fisher Dachs Associates
- Nagata Acoustics
- DMP