Cidade da Musica
Atelier Christian de Portzamparc

September 08, 2008 /

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Image © Atelier Christian de Portzamparc

Barra de Tijuca is a new town in Rio de Janeiro's southern outskirts. It is a long plain that lacks strong architectural events and urban marks. The Cidade da Musica, situated in the center of two crossing highways imagined by Lucio Costa, will be the heart of the new town.

The Cidade da Musica is placed on a vast public terrace, ten meters above a garden designed by Fernando Chacel, that gives access to all concert rooms, movie theaters, rehearsal rooms, restaurant, library, shops, and the headquarter of the Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra.

Image © Atelier Christian de Portzamparc

Between the two horizontal plates of the roof and the terrace the shapes of the concert rooms are set in an interplay of volumes and voids. Hollows between the blocks allows one to look through the building. Seen as a large house on stilts, a great veranda above a garden with ponds, shade and trees, the Cidade da Musica is also an homage to an archetype of Brazilian architecture.

Image © Atelier Christian de PortzamparcSouth West Elevation

Image © Atelier Christian de PortzamparcSouth East Elevation

Image © Atelier Christian de PortzamparcNorth Elevation
Image © Atelier Christian de Portzamparc
North West Elevation
Image © Atelier Christian de Portzamparc
Image © Atelier Christian de Portzamparc

Image © Atelier Christian de Portzamparc

Image © Atelier Christian de PortzamparcGrand stairs lead the public towards the entry to the Concert Hall.

Image © Atelier Christian de Portzamparc

The project is an urban signal, a public symbol floating on the plain with a large visibility. The architecture also responds to the mountain curves of the Siera Atlantica and the line of the sea, guaranteed to be a major landmark of the greater Rio.

Photo © Atelier Christian de PortzamparcConcrete walls rise to a height of 30 meters to support the building.

Photo © Atelier Christian de PortzamparcConcrete walls rise to a height of 30 meters to support the building.

Sketch courtesy Christian de PortzamparcFirst Sketch

Sketch courtesy Christian de PortzamparcFirst SketchesDrawing © Atelier Christian de PortzamparcPlan Level two

Photo © Atelier Christian de PortzamparcAxonometric

Drawings © Atelier Christian de PortzamparcSections Concert Hall/Opera

Facts about Cidade da Musica

Total area:

46,000 m2 / 968,760 ft2

Expected completion:

2009

Construction documents:
L.A. Rangel Arquitetos

Acoustics in France:

XU Acoustique, Xu Ya Ying

Acoustics in Brazil:

Acùstica & sônica

Scenography in France:

Changement à Vue

Scenography in Brazil:

Solé e Associados

Structural engineering:

BETON Engenharia
Carlos Fragelli
Bruno Cantarini

Landscape design:

CAP, Fernando Chancel

The program includes:

Philharmonic Hall seating 1800,
transformable into an Opera Hall seating 1300.
Chambre Music Room seating 500
Electroacoustic seating 180
Headquarters of the Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra
Rehearsal rooms
Media library
Two movie theaters seating 150
One movie theater seating 300
Restaurant, shops, administration offices, technical spaces and parking lots.