Music School and Concert Hall

Music in its many different forms has an essential role in Latvian culture, lending communities distinct identities.The new music school in the Baltic city of Ventspils provides the region with a much needed centre of excellence and a focal point for the teaching and performance of music.

The music school is prominently located on the main public square, Lielais laukums. The plaza, gardens, water feature and sculpture are conceived as part of the wide reaching transformation of the city centre. This new urban landscape provides a fitting backdrop to the striking forms of the building and enriches the visitor experience.

The distinctive roof shelters different spaces, both indoor and out, from the extremes of the weather and lends the building an immediately recognizable landmark appearance. The music school offers a range of performance spaces accessible to the public, with a classical concert hall (seating 600), complimented by a smaller „black-box“ theatre, a music library and an outdoor stage and amphitheater. Diverse backstage facilities are housed over 3 floors surrounding the concert hall stage.

All interiors spaces are developed according to the highest acoustic standards with isolation permitting the undisturbed staging of parallel events in the 2 halls. The building's interiors are distinguished by the contrast between the simple rectilinear form of the concert hall and the informal arrangement of the surrounding foyers which open out onto Lielais laukums, in the form of terraces and balconies. The foyers are flanked by the cafeteria, music library, green room, recording studio and extensive teaching facilities.

A distinguishing feature of the concert hall is the striking pipe organ, designed in collaboration with Orgelbau Klais. An innovative energy concept combines earth channels, decentralized ventilation units and extensive heat recovery with a high performance envelope to dramatically reduce operational costs. The building can, dependent upon the season, be naturally ventilated. A large skylight allows the concert hall to be naturally lit.

The opening of the concert hall was celebrated by a series of concerts in Summer 2019. The inaugural concert performed by the National Symphony Orchestra, Latvian State Choir with Raimund Pauls and Iveta Apkalna was broadcast live in national radio / television.