Petr Hájek Architekti, s.r.o.

Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary

Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary 

Petr Hájek Architekti

Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Petr Polák

MANUFACTURERS
Ascender Seating, Barco, Gerriets, Nexo

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Petr Hájek, Nikoleta Slováková, Martin Stoss

ACOUSTIC DESIGN AND AUDIOVISUAL TECHNOLOGY
Avt Group - Petr Vlček, Martin Vondrášek

STRUCTURAL STEELWORK AND MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGIES
Gradior Tech-robert Nos, Martin Matoušek

PHOTOGRAPHS
Benedikt Markel, Petr Polák, Ester Havlová

AREA
492 M²

YEAR
2024

LOCATION
Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

CATEGORY
Concert House

Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Petr Polák

Text description provided by architect.

The historic building of the Imperial Spa, completed in 1895, was remarkable in its time for both its architecture and spa technologies. In the second half of the 19th century, groundbreaking inventions were created.

Thomas Alva Edison invented the light bulb, Nikola Tesla developed the induction motor, Alexander Bell built the telephone, Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler introduced the first internal combustion engine car, and Henri Giffard designed a steerable airship.

Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Benedikt Markel
Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Petr Polák

During the same era, Jules Verne wrote the novel From the Earth to the Moon, and Claude Monet painted the iconic Impression, Sunrise.

Technological progress and the ability to construct complex mechanical machines from steel were also reflected in the design of the Imperial Spa. Architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer incorporated a unique mechanism for processing and distributing peat.

Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Petr Polák
Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Petr Polák

The peat was transported by conveyor and elevator from a processing facility to multi-story bathing areas. This efficient system enabled up to 2,000 guests per day to use 100 baths, ensuring a quick return on investment despite the initial budget being exceeded by double.

At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, the building was used only occasionally for cultural events and gradually fell into disrepair.

Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Petr Polák
Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Petr Polák

A meaningful purpose was sought to justify the costly reconstruction. This situation persisted even during the preparation phase for the building works.

Eventually, the investor decided to transform the Imperial Spa into a cultural institution, with a concert and multifunctional hall as its central feature.

This hall was located in the building's core, within the atrium, which had previously functioned as a utilitarian machine room with the peat conveyor. The historical "peat machine" became the inspiration for our design.

Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Petr Polák
Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Petr Polák
Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Petr Polák

Since the restoration of spa operations was not planned and only a few cast-iron columns from the original structure had been preserved, there was an opportunity to introduce a new "machine" – in this case, featuring state-of-the-art scenic and acoustic technology.

The hall's design functions as a "transformer," capable of adapting spatial and acoustic parameters to the specific needs of each event.

Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Petr Polák
Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Petr Polák

The hall can be compared to a "Swiss army knife" offering a variety of functions.

The hall is equipped with elements that adjust reverberation time, as well as the direction and intensity of sound energy.

The orchestral shell features a retractable screen that reflects sound towards the audience.

Rotating triangular panels above the stage can reflect, absorb, scatter, or direct sound. Wooden panels on a steel framework in the orchestra's floor serve as resonators, harmonizing with the musicians' instruments.

Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Ester Havlová
Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Petr Polák

The hall is fitted with technology to accommodate concerts, theater performances, dance, conferences, film screenings, and popular music.

A heavy blackout curtain allows the space to be completely darkened and acoustically dampened.

All scenic and acoustic technologies are integrated into the hall's structure, while ventilation and fire safety systems are housed in a block above the main staircase roof.

The construction of the hall was challenging, as large structural components could not be transported into the atrium. All parts had to be assembled from smaller elements transported through an opening in the roof.

Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
© Ester Havlová


Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
Scheme
Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
Plan


Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
Section
Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
Detail


Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
Sectional View
Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
Sketch
Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
Model
Concert Hall in Karlovy Vary
Model - Movable Elements

Petr Hájek Architekti, s.r.o.
T +420 737 239672
Petr Hájek Architekti, s.r.o.
Grafická 831/20, 150 00 Praha 5-Smíchov, Czech Republic