Recognized as one of the foremost classical performance venues in Asia, the Lotte Concert Hall, part of the Lotte World Tower complex, boasts world-class acoustics and sumptuous, terraced interiors designed in the vineyard style. The sheer size of the adjacent tower and the surrounding development called for a “jewel”-like presence perched atop the complex. The swelling form of the Concert Hall is a reaction to the curves that surround it – the subtle lines of the tower, the “scoop” of public plaza below, and the rounded corners of the adjacent cinema tower. Breaking from the more orthogonal resolution of those areas, the swelling exterior shell of the concert hall is more sensual, with arched cutouts of vertical glass wall interrupting the form.

Vibration control emerged as a major design challenge for the Hall, given its location on top of another structure, which itself is adjacent to one of the city’s metro lines. A “box-in-a-box” system – completely separating the internal structure of the Hall (floor, walls, and ceiling) from the external structure – emerged as the most viable solution for eliminating outside vibration and noise. Given the range of performance types – from solo pieces to symphonies – the Hall includes several elements that allow it to provide the optimal sound for a given performer, including a “round-type stage lift” to alter the height of the stage and an “acoustic banner” that allows for minute adjustment of the reverb in the Hall.