Danish Radio Koncerthuset
Copenhagen, Denmark
The new music broadcast center for the Danish Radio include a 1 800-seat concert hall and three rehearsal and recording studios. Each room has a dedicated recording control room of similar architectural design, but with different colors!
Studio 1, the concert hall, is positioned on top of the three smaller studios. The room has a vineyard layout with a multitude of smaller and larger connecting balconies surrounding the stage. The ceiling consists of a series of assymetrically overlapping scales that conceal an extensive network of lighting bridges, catwalks, trolley beams and hoist points, and media infrastructure.
The ceiling engages a moveble canopy over the orchestra. It embeds the main orchestra lighting as well as microphone hoists and loudspeaker systems for sound reinforcement. The stage has an extensive riser system, the layout of which was studied and developed in close collaboration with the radio's symphony orchestra. For variability of the room's acoustics, the two sides of the room can be covered with large curtains that store in the side walls.
Studios 2, 3 and 4 are positioned side-by-side in the base of the building. They are surrounded by smaller isolation booths, each of which has large windows towards the adjacent studio for optimal communication between musicians. The booths that are located between the studios create the necessary acoustical separation between the studios, and can be used from either side. With all internal curtains opened, the isolation booths visually connect all three studios together. Each of these studios has a large window to the public foyers.
Studio 2, intended for symphony orchestra rehearsal and recording, has the same stage layout as Studio 1. The room is suitable for smaller scale public concerts with up to 250 visitors. It has a variable acoustics system using large motorized sliding panels on the walls that either cover or expose fixed absorption to the room.
Studio 3 is the rhythm studio, for big bands, and semi-amplified and electronic music. It has a mobile glass separation wall to reduce cross-talk between the different sections of the ensemble. The variable acoustics system in this studio consists of large motorized panels that hinge on the wall.
The fourth studio is for choir rehearsal and recording, but may also be used for chamber music, etc. The walls are covered with motorized triangles (periacts) to expose either a reflective, absorptive or diffusive side to the room.
dUCKS has been involved from the very beginning of the project. We studied circulation and sightlines, and developed concepts and designs of the theater machinery, the variable acoustics mechanisms and the stage lighting systems. During the construction phase we provided addtional technical site coordination for which we collaborated with our colleages at ITV in Berlin.
