World Architecture Festival 2017 has closed its second day with an eagerly anticipated discussion on Herzog & de Meuron's magical concert hall Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, which opened its doors to the public, earlier this year.

In a one-hour session, Pierre de Meuron, Founding Partner of Herzog & de Meuron was in conversation with architecture critic and theorist Charles Jencks on this spectacular venue, discussing how a modern concert hall performs for the city's daily life socially, architecturally, economically and politically.

First, critic Charles Jencks presents the recently completed Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg as if he was the architect.

As a follow-up, Pierre de Meuron responds to Jencks' presentation by analysing and exploring each part of the building, in a 'performance' where the role of critic and architect were reversed.

Finally, in a third part, both de Meuron and Jencks discuss together.

The annual World Architecture Festival (WAF) is taking place this year at the Berlin Arena, between 15-17 November. World Architecture Community is media partner for this year's World Architecture Festival. Read on for more information about the seminar programme and first category winners, second category winners and some keynote presentations here. 

Pierre de Meuron and Charles Jencks. Image © WAC

World Architecture Festival will announce  World building of the Year, Emerging Architect of the Year and World Interior of the Year today after intensive jury evaluations selected by the super-jury of WAF. 

Top image © Sophie Wolter