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Proposed Porto Concert Hall uses curved laminated glass for acoustics, clarity and strength

Samples of curved laminated glass proposed for the Porto Concert Hall

Koolhaas says: "This century has seen an architecturally frantic attempt to escape from the tyranny of the notorious 'shoe-box' that remains, for the specialists, the best guarantee of perfect acoustics."

"With the Porto Concert Hall, instead of a struggle with form, we have addressed the relationship between the Concert Hall and the Public. Most cultural institutions serve only part of a population. A majority knows only their exterior, only a minority knows what they feel like inside. Our design for the Porto concert hall reveals its contents without being didactic; at the same time, it exposes the city in a way that has never happened before."

Porto Concert Hall (Model)

Project architect Saskia Simons told LGN: "Two full elevations of the hall will consist of two layers of laminated glass separated by a seven-metre space that serves as a foyer. While the glass will be 'corrugated' for optimal acoustics and sheer beauty, it will be optically clear, giving lovely views of the city as you move around. Being laminated, it will also possess a self-supporting strength."