Philharmonie Berlin

Opened in 1963, the Philharmonie Berlin is one of the icons of modern architecture. Architect Hans Scharoun created a completely new form for the concert hall: the 2,250 seats are arranged in different blocks, terraced like a vineyard, around a five-sided orchestra podium. Beneath the hall is the foyer, whose labyrinthine staircases cause even regular visitors to get lost time and again. The unusual silhouette of the building, whose outer shell is clad in golden aluminium panels, can also be explained by its internal layout. The hall is also considered one of the best in the world in terms of acoustics. It is home to the Berliner Philharmoniker, but is also used by other Berlin orchestras and event organisers.

The Kammermusiksaal (Chamber Hall), located right next to the Philharmonie Berlin, was built between 1984 and 1987 according to plans by Edgar Wisniewski. It was based on a sketch by Hans Scharoun, who also designed the Kulturforum in what was then ‘no man’s land’ near the inner Berlin Wall. The building is reminiscent of the Philharmonie Berlin in many ways, but has an atmosphere of its own. With 1,180 seats, it is rather large for a chamber music hall, yet all seats offer good visibility and acoustics.