The curved walls of the Chamber Music Hall, the heart of the ensemble, are the result of a close collaboration between architect Volker Staab and renowned acoustician Martijn Vercammen. With the synthesis of acoustic requirements and architectural design, a concert hall has been created that is unique in its free and compact form. To achieve excellent acoustics, the walls are curved in both concave and convex directions. They carry and reflect the sound for the audience. The size of the stage is flexibly adapted: it offers space for soloists and small ensembles, but also for a chamber philharmonic orchestra with 65 musicians. The audience parquet has 13 rows of seats and is supplemented by two rows of seats on the upper tiers.
The general lighting of the approximately 14-meter-high hall is provided by a total of 90 custom designed cylindrical pendant luminaires, whose arrangement follows the design of the ceiling. The pendant luminaires consist of a brownish tinted glass body that appears opaque when switched off and translucent and lightweight when switched on. This lighting component fills the upper half-space of the hall with diffused light and renders its wooden surfaces with soft light. In addition, the pendant luminaire has a downlight component that provides directional light at floor level. To realize pre-programmed, individual light scenes, both elements can be switched separately, while each luminaire can be controlled individually in its light intensity at a constant light color of 3,000 K. Combined into small groups, the pendant luminaires can be formed into different “swarms”. The size of the swarm responds to the size of the stage area used and appropriately orchestrates performances ranging from soloists to chamber plays to large orchestras.
In close consultation with the architects and the user, the lighting designers have developed diverse lighting scenes that enable a gradual change in atmosphere, from the hall brightly lit to the more intimate concert scenario. The “Welcome” lighting scene, including pendant luminaires with diffuse and directional light components, presents the entire room in all its splendor. To guide the visitors to their seats, the luminaires above the audience slowly fade out in the subsequent scene and the diffuse component above the stage loses its intensity. In this way, attention is increasingly drawn to the stage until the maximum zoning and focus is finally achieved. The potential for swarm configuration of the lighting products means that a dramatic atmosphere can be created for speeches with just four pendant luminaires, or that a larger grouping of luminaires can be arranged to respond appropriately to the different stage sizes or orchestra seating arrangements. There is even a specific lighting scene for the applause, in which the luminaires in the upper gallery are switched on to make parts of the audience visible. The lighting on the stage is supplemented by spotlights that emerge from behind foldable panels to provide a subtle, wide angle field of illumination.
Small-format recessed luminaires are integrated into the risers of the auditorium’s stairs, ensuring safe movement and orientation of the audience during the dimmed lighting scene during a concert. The tiers ending with the upper foyer level are appropriately illuminated with downlights flush with the ceiling, while the wall surfaces at the wood-clad entrances are marked by wall washers and naturally contribute to orientation in the space.
To creatively link the two buildings, the Chamber Music Hall and the Academy and Administration Center, the same ceiling light profile was used in the zones leading to the central outdoor area, as was used in the Concert Hall’s lower foyer. Here, too, diffuse light lines are implemented, supplemented by spotlights for accent lighting. Decorative pendant luminaires visually delineate the reception counter area, while lounge zones are given an additional accent and zoning by floor luminaires.
In the daylight-deprived corridor areas to the audition and practice rooms, the walls are illuminated with recessed wall washers. By emphasizing the vertical surfaces, the enclosed space appears enlarged and inviting. In addition, the uniform illumination of the wall allows the user to flexibly arrange, for instance, pictures or information.
Due to the high demands on acoustics in the practice, audition, and classrooms, there are large-format round acoustic panels mounted to the ceiling at a predefined angle. With their diameters of 450 mm and 600 mm respectively, the round and diffusely radiating luminaires planned here integrate excellently into the ceiling design.
The recital and examination hall also has a high demand on acoustics. In contrast to the audition rooms, the acoustic panels here are angular and strictly orthogonal. Lighting is provided by linear downlights centered in the panels and inconspicuously blend in with the ceiling. In addition, wall washers are used on the panels near the walls to illuminate the vertical surfaces.
The access and circulation areas in the outdoor space of the Casals Forum are illuminated by architectural wall luminaires. Additional bollard luminaires guide visitors safely across the topography of the site to the building, while the trees on the forecourt are highlighted by recessed floor luminaires, creating a pleasant quality of stay for visitors.
In the cantilevering roof of the Chamber Music Hall facing the square and in the entrance area, the lighting designers integrated discreet downlights, which create a carpet of light on the floor with their soft light and invite visitors into the building. The soft light emitted from the interior through the generous glazing gives the ceiling a floating and light-weight appearance. The illumination of the curtain, which follows the curved shape of the concert hall, creates an appealing long-distance effect.
After ten years, the new Casals Forum in the Kronberg Music Quarter has transformed the building owners’ vision into reality – to create a place where music is played and artists can flourish. With the help of the persistent commitment of a competent and motivated planning team, Kronberg Academy has produced a world-class new building ensemble that combines unique architecture with a first-class sound experience, aesthetic aspirations, modern technology and sustainability. The lighting concept supports the diverse user requirements with a careful, flexible and integrated lighting solution that, in keeping with the legacy of Pablo Casals, places itself entirely at the service of music and architecture.
