Verified before construction begins: acoustic testing at the Vltava Philharmonic Hall

On 12 and 13 September, the acoustic model of the Main Hall of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall — Prague’s future national music centre — was opened to the public. Measurements are under way on the model at the workshops of AVETON in Mnichovo Hradiště, north-east of Prague, refining the acoustic design of the future hall.

The 1:10 scale model reproduces the geometry of the 1,800 seat hall with millimetre precision. It contains roughly 1,750 miniature figures simulating the sound absorption of an audience; during measurements the model is hermetically sealed and filled with nitrogen. In this way Nagata Acoustics verifies in a physical environment what digital studies established beforehand. Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director of BIG, describes the result as a space that is almost a musical instrument in itself. vltavskafilharmonie

For project management, this reflects a fundamental principle: critical decisions are verified before construction begins. The measurement results feed into design coordination and into the schedule — the geometry of the hall, the choice of materials and their surface finishes are directly interdependent and must be resolved in a precisely defined sequence. Aligning these inputs across architects, acousticians and designers is at the core of our work on the project.

Quote — Zbyněk Kovář, Authorised Officer, DELTA Group CZ
“The acoustic model shows how this project is run: key decisions are verified in advance and treated with full seriousness. Our role is to translate the results into a coordinated design and schedule so that each step follows properly from the last. On a project of this scale, international experience is not merely an advantage — it is a precondition for success.”

The DJF consortium, led by DELTA Group CZ together with FETTERS management and JE Group, provides project management for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall. The City of Prague is the investor and the project is coordinated by Pražská developerská společnost (Prague Development Company). The building is designed by BIG — Bjarke Ingels Group, with AFRY as lead designer.

More on the project and the testing process HERE.

Photo credits: © Jan Malý, Quelle: vltavskafilharmonie.cz