Philharmonie, Berlin

The Berlin Philharmonic has been the musical heart of Berlin since 1963.

Located on the outskirts of West Berlin when it opened, it became part of the new city centre after reunification. Its unusual tent-like shape and bright yellow colour make it one of the symbols of the city. Its unusual architecture and innovative concert hall design initially caused controversy, but it now serves as a model for concert halls around the world.

"One person facing another, distributed in circles, in a mighty swinging arch around a moving crystal pyramid." As early as 1920, the architect Hans Scharoun wrote these words as a vision of the ideal theatre space. From this idea, he developed the Philharmonic's Great Hall 35 years later, with the podium with the musicians forming the centrepiece. his innovative concert hall design was initially controversial, but it now serves as a model for concert halls around the world.