Koolhaas' Porto concert hall wins RIBA European Award

Architect Rem Koolhaas won a RIBA European Award last week for this concert hall in Porto, Portugal. The Casa da Musica will now go on to the longlist for the Stirling Prize, the winner of which will be announced in October.

Koolhaas’ building contains two shoe box shaped auditoriums, and the space between the two concert spaces is used as a public space with eight rehearsal rooms, IT and educational facilities, a music shop and rooms with recording facilities.

Koolhaas said “Most cultural institutions serve only part of a population. A majority knows their exterior shape, only a minority knows what happens inside. With Casa da Musica, OMA wanted to address the relationship between the Concert Hall and the public inside as well as outside the building.”

For more images and details on the RIBA awards, see this week’s magazine.