The construction of the world-class Vltava Philharmonic concert hall in Prague’s Holešovice neighborhood is one step closer to realization, as Prague city councillors have approved the continuation of the project.
The approval was based on a usability study completed by an international consortium led by the renowned Henning Larsen studio, in collaboration with AEA and Buro Happold.
The project will now move to the Prague City Assembly; if it gets the green light there, preparations will begin for an international architectural competition.
The competition would be announced in the second half of 2021. It will be preceded by a detailed analysis on the financing of the Philharmonic’s operations.
“Prague is not just an open-air museum merely capitalising on its rich history. New projects are essential for sustainable development. Our city also needs modern architecture through which our generation – with great humility – will complement the work of those who came before us. We are now another step closer to building the new Vltava Philharmonic concert hall, and I look forward to seeing its final form,” says Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib.
According to the recommendations from the analysis, the Vltava Philharmonic building should include three halls: the main concert hall for 1,800 people, a small hall for chamber music with a capacity of 500, and a multifunctional hall for other genres and types of events with a capacity of 700.
The main concert hall will offer world-class acoustics and facilities meeting 21st century standards, making it the cultural center for musical life in Prague.
The use of outdoor public space for cultural programming is also anticipated. The entire area should thus become a vibrant place used daily and all day. Estimates indicate that the Philharmonic will attract over 600,000 visitors annually, with the outdoor and adjacent spaces bringing up to 1.2 million more.
Experts estimate the costs for the construction itself at around CZK 5.3 billion. The city should be the investor; alternatively, the city can invest in cooperation with the state and possibly with the private sector, if there is interest.
Together with the expenses related to the project documentation and the architectural competition, the total costs are anticipated at approximately CZK 6.1 billion.
