TRACY·TV #56: Rem Koolhaas Casa da Musica in Porto

TRACY·TV #56: Rem Koolhaas Casa da Musica in Porto

The Portuguese city of Porto was European Cultural Capital in 2001, and one of the projects that spawned was the Casa da Música by Rem Koolhaas’ OMA. It took longer than expected –  it didn’t open until 2005 – and it went way over budget, from 31 million euro’s to 111 million. But the result is spectacular, combining hard materials like concrete, glass and aluminium with soft surfaces like the Noridc pine wallsof the main hall with goldleaf motifs and the lovely wavy glass wall around it. One thing did surprise me: the Soviet-style furniture along the walls. Watch my vlog and judge for yourself!

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Eindhoven concert hall as Gesamtkunstwerk

Eindhoven concert hall as Gesamtkunstwerk

Niels van Eijk and Mirjam van der Lubbe were invited to do a complete makeover of Eindhoven’s concert hall. No stone went unturned, from the lobby with its touchy-feely ambient light wall to the uniforms, the carpet and that one brave yellow chair in the big auditorium. Graphics by Gerard Hadders. Read my article in the July issue of Metropolis here in Publications. Read the article…

Musical makeover in Eindhoven

Musical makeover in Eindhoven

Designers Mirjam van der Lubbe and Niels van Eijk were invited to redesign Eindhoven’s concert hall. The result is a Gesamtkunstwerk: they redid everything, from the carpet to the seating to the uniforms, even down to the cups and saucers. Read the article…