CASA DA MÚSICA

Home of the National Orchestra of Porto, the Casa da Música by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas of OMA is situated in a workingclass neighbourhood and is stitched into the urban fabric of the city as a type of piazza where the local context itself becomes a dramatic backdrop for performances. The building is quite a controversial piece of architecture as it overlooks the historical Rotunda da Boavista, but it creates a well-perceived balance between past and present. It surely acts as a servant of the people in Porto, and becomes a masterful centrepiece of cultural interaction in the works of performance arts.

The geometry of the design is also inspiring, as there is no real axis of interpretation to its development, which allows people to be invited into the building from all sides of its exterior structure. This kind of creation invites people to venture further around the building in exploration. The concert hall’s lighting design is also quite remarkable as it reflects the playful rhythms of the interior with subtle hints of art performed inside, guiding visitors to the foyer and around the building.