The winner of the International Architectural Competition for the design of Vltava Philharmonic Hall in Prague was announced at the end of August, 2021. The decision was made by the City of Prague and The Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Prague) during a gala at the Center for Architecture and Metropolitan planning (CAMP).
A total of 115 teams from 25 countries entered the competition, and 5 renowned architectural studios were also invited to participate in advance. In the end, the winning firm was Danish studio, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). The winning design will house three concert halls as well as the music department and creative hub of Municipal Library Prague. Overlooking the Vltava river bank in the center of Prague, visitors are encouraged to walk along the outdoor terraces that will have a cafe or rooftop restaurant.
Wood panels will stretch along the protruding terraces of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall, permeating from the interior to the exterior. The timber coming from Šumava, to the sources of the Vltava River, symbolically highlighting the theme of the Vltava. The Vltava Philharmonic will also be the home of two orchestras – the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK and the Czech Philharmonic. Both orchestras will find adequate residential spaces here, but also facilities for expanding their educational programs for the public. Music schools of various levels will also be involved and will be able to use the Vltava Philharmonic Hall’s facilities for their teaching.
Representatives of the Czech Philharmonic and the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK, as well as the Municipal Library in Prague, participated in the preparation of the architectural competition brief and were invited to jury the competition, thus being able to comment on the needs of individual entities. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 with the building projected to open in 2032.
