Bucheon Philharmonic Concert Hall

New York-based H Architecture presents a competition runner-up proposal for the Bucheon Philharmonic Concert Hall, located within the Civic Plaza of Bucheon City Hall. Designed in collaboration with Haeahn Architecture in Seoul and Nagata Acoustics in Los Angeles, the project envisions a new cultural landmark titled “Music Hill.” The six-story,21,850.71 m² complex integrates four distinct programs: a 1,452-seatshoebox-style concert hall, a 302-seat black box theater with a rooftop restaurant, an exhibition space, and academy and office functions that support the Philharmonic’s operations.

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Developed as part of the city’s arts initiative, the building will serve both the Bucheon Philharmonic—who have lacked a permanent home for over 30 years—and the broader public, offering flexible performance and civic spaces for various cultural activities.

The design concept, “Music Hill,” is inspired by the collaborative harmony of an orchestra and reflects Bucheon’s cultural diversity through a composition of separate yet interconnected volumes. Each program is acoustically and spatially individualized, creating optimal sound conditions while engaging with the surrounding context. The outdoor civic plaza merges seamlessly with the complex, offering flexible public gathering spaces that enhance urban connectivity. The concert hall’s façade is kept minimal and iconic, balanced by louvers that mirror the expressive cladding of adjacent structures. A media façade on the west side supports public events, while the academy’s louvers reference Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5—a nod to the Philharmonic’s identity. Internally, the bent shoebox hall combines precise acoustical shaping, micro-form strategies, and simulation-based material studies to deliver an exceptional auditory and spatial experience for performers and audiences alike.

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