A new hall for České BudějoviceSeptember 23rd, 2008
In a previous post I talked about concert halls in Prague. I insisted on the necessity of building a modern infrastructure in the Czech capital city. Well, this modern infrastructure won’t be built in Prague, but in the South Bohemian main city of České Budějovice (95000 inhabitants).
After the famous “Kaplický affair” and his project of national library in Prague, accepted then moved to be finally cancelled (according the day), the Czech architect has been assigned by the City of České Budějovice, to carry out the project of its future concert hall.
Kaplický’s project is already compared to a sea devil. The new building, which should carry the name of Antonín Dvořák, will host two concert and congress halls, with a capacity of 1000 guests seated for the largest room and 400 for the second one.
Kaplický claims he brought a particular care to the acoustic, having closely worked with musicians and studied parameters of halls known for their phonic properties.
The building will be black: “The black color is the color of grandness and increases uniqueness. Musicians are also dressed in black” explains Kaplický, adding that spectators often wear dark colors. The outside will be black and the inside will be shimmering, in orange and red.
If all happens as planned, construction works will start in 2010 for completion in 2013.
The final cost hasn’t been precisely set yet, but would certainly exceed 1 billion Czech Crowns (45 million Euros). České Budějovice expects a financial help from Brussels to bring its project to fruition.
One question however: why České Budějovice?