all images © Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects

Watch a presentation video of the complex featuring the Malmö Symphony Orchestra on the rooftop of Malmö Live

The new 1,600 seat concert hall in Malmö Live opened to the public with a festive premier program on the weekend 28-30 August 2015. The concert hall is the Centre piece of the Malmö Live complex, which also consists of a five star Clarion Hotel, Congress Centre, two restaurant’s, sky bar and an additional flexible venue space, called the Cube. The complex designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen architects totaling 54,000m2 opened in May of this year and is fast becoming a cultural landmark in central Malmö.

Malmo Live is situated within the Schmidt Hammer Lassen Universitetsholmen masterplan in central Malmö and appears as a clear and easily readable composition of buildings. Inside, three volumes hold a large symphony hall, a flexible hall and a conference centre, which are clearly defined elements that, through their mutual composition, set the tone for the musicality of the building. The three building masses have an almost-urban scale that supports the idea of 'a city within the city', which is the key design concept of the complex. The different functions of the building are organised as separate elements to resemble a small city, with the lobby becoming the street, which runs through the entire ground floor and ties everything together.

"We worked in very close cooperation with Akustikon to achieve two things: an absolutely world-class sound and a room with a musicality that works with the music, like sitting inside an instrument. The result is a composition of cubic elements. Each surface has a function, angle and size that supports the acoustics. Light is integrated into the walls so the mood can be changed depending on what is being performed in the hall,” says Kristian Ahlmark, Senior Partner, schmidt hammer lassen architects.

The 45 metres long, 23 metres wide and 20 metres high concert hall is purposely designed for the Malmo Symphony Orchestra and seats an audience of 1,600. The concert hall is made of oak and brass which helps create an intimate atmosphere and stands in contrast to the complex's other interior that stands boldly in raw black concrete and stone.

With the concert hall's central location in Malmö Live and access via wide staircases and open, bright landings which offer views of the main lobby and of the promenade, the canal and the city, the concert guests become part of the complex’ dynamic and versatile life - and a natural part of "a city within the city".

Project Facts

Architect: schmidt hammer lassen architects

Client: Concert Hall: Malmö City

Competition: International property development competition in 2010

Status: Completed in 2015

Landscape architect: SLA

Contractor: Skanska Sverige AB

Other collaborators: Akustikon

> via Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects