“Great Amber” or Tangible Utopia

The concert hall “Great Amber” in Liepaja opened three years ago has become a new symbol of this port city and a bright landmark of Latvia. This year the object received Grand Prix at the VI Russian competition with international participation “Glass in architecture”, which presents buildings and projects using glass and translucent structures made over the past five years. He also presented at the 4th architectural exhibition “TIME SPACE EXISTENCE” in the European Cultural Centre at Palazzo Bembo on the Grand Canal, organized with the support of the GAA-Foundation in the framework of the 16th International Architectural Biennale in Venice.

“Great Amber” is a monolithic, cone-shaped, slightly contorted structure with a transparent, amber coloured façade. This façade envelops the irregular folded work of the concrete structure built around the building’s most important architectural element: the grand Concert Hall providing seating for more than 1,000 visitors. 

The hall itself is surrounded by the rooms of the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra and the Music School’s instruction and rehearsal rooms, thus producing a favourable blend of space to foster communication between artists, students and teachers. An additional Chamber Hall situated beneath the Concert Hall as well as a Ballet Studio and an Experimental Stage with a foyer, Bar & Music Club on the fifth floor completes the spatial concept.

Materials provided by Volker Giencke

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