Gallery: What Happens When Algorithms Design a Concert Hall? The Stunning Elbphilharmonie

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    Iwan Baan
    01

    Elbphilharmonie-Großer-Saal-c-Iwan-Baan-14.jpg

    Herzog and De Meuron designed the main concert hall of Hamburg's recently opened Elbphilharmonie with the help of algorithms.
  • Z
    Michael Zapf
    02

    Elbphilharmonie-Großer-Saal-c-Michael-Zapf-1.jpg

    The room is comprised of 10,000 acoustic panels.
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    Maxim Schulz
    03

    Elbphilharmonie-Großer-Saal-c-Maxim-Schulz.jpg

    Each has a pattern of cells, or divots that are designed to diffuse sound.
  • Image may contain Pattern Ornament Fractal and Texture
    Ben Koren
    04

    Elbphilharmonie-09.jpg

    The 10,000 panels have a total of 1 million cells.
  • Z
    Michael Zapf
    05

    Elbphilharmonie-Großer-Saal-c-Michael-Zapf-8.jpg

    The concert hall's reflector has panels arranged in the shape of a Fibonacci flower.
  • Image may contain Building Warehouse and Wood
    Ben Koren
    06

    Elbphilharmonie-08.jpg

    Benjamin Koren of One to Oneto developed an algorithm to generate a unique shape for each of the 10,000 panels, which were then CNC milled.
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    Ben Koren
    07

    Elbphilharmonie-14.jpg

    The panels were slotted into place like pieces of a puzzle.
  • 230
    Iwan Baan
    08

    Plaza-c-Iwan-Baan-7.jpg

    The building's entrance.
  • Image may contain City Town Urban Building Office Building High Rise Metropolis Architecture Condo and Housing
    Maxim Schulz
    09

    Elbphilharmonie-Hamburg-c-Maxim-Schulz-9-mittel.jpg

    The building's panels echo the peak and trough shape of the facade.
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