Rem Koolhaas/OMA challenges old notions
of what a concert hall should be in the sculptural
CASA DA MUSICA in Porto, Portugal
The bung aces
se ren and
(wettom ht and ane
By David Conn,
‘ke an ungainly barge of lopsided spaceiip the abstract seul-
l ‘ural form of Rem Koolhaas Coa ds Mascabar made asplahy
Innding in Porto Portugal's second-lgest iy overturning one
enional ideas of concer-hall decorum with the Dutch
auchtec! characteristic edgy sense of syle Designed to attact aie
ences many diferent musical perasions—rom aij nd aba
classical symphonis—she projet aims tobe an iterzationl landmark
‘Bat ives Porto a bon amid Portugal caren economic male
Posed i ite own plaa beside cla park tha interrupts &
rand avenue connecting the od iy tothe nearby Aatic the Gam dt
Masia starts upsting conventions atthe ont dos offering anew take
contheartof making a dramatic entrance, Located midway up the bul-
Ings hullke volume, atthe top of theaticaly baci sta with
avid Cohn nace’ iterations orrepandet Bisel Said a he
tor f Yung Spat chests (Bian, 2009,
butusrades of ames gas the ete isa glass sot ed at rash a5