Walt Disney Concert Hall
Los Angeles
The Walt Disney Concert Hall is the most famous concert hall in Los Angeles. Opened in 2003 and designed by Frank Gehry, it is known for its curved, shining walls.
A gift to the city
In 1987 Lillian Disney donated 50 million dollars to build a concert hall. It was a gift to the people of the city and a tribute to her husband Walt. At first, 80 architects applied. In the end Frank Gehry won, and Lillian liked him very much.
A very long building project
The design changed about fifty times. Work stopped in 1994 and only started again in 1999. The hall finally opened in October 2003 and quickly became a symbol of the city.
Every panel is different
Every panel on the walls has its own shape and size. The design software of the time was not enough. Gehry's team adapted a program made for designing airplanes. The panels are attached with a special, super-strong double-sided tape.
Music without loudspeakers
Inside the hall no loudspeakers are needed: the sound bounces off the wooden walls. Gehry worked with a Japanese sound expert, Yasuhisa Toyota. The 2265 seats all surround the stage. Even the ceiling was designed to help the music.
