Dewan Filharmonik Petronas

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
28,000 square feet / 3,000 square meters
1998

The Dewan Filharmonik Petronas is Maylasia’s premier concert hall. Located between the twin 88-​story Petronas Towers at the heart of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre development, the 863-​seat hall is approached by a pair of grand stairs. The procession from ground level to the lobby level provides a variety of views throughout the City Centre as well as through the expansive glass wall to the exterior gardens.

The concert hall’s shape takes its inspiration from the traditional shoebox of the great European concert halls of the 19^th century, still widely acknowledged as the finest acoustic environment for symphonic music. Modern acoustic devices maximize the venue’s natural acoustic qualities, creating a flexible environment that can accommodate solo recitals, symphonies and choruses and traditional Malaysian performances.

The unique aspect of the acoustic design is the ceiling. With its gently arched surfaces sparkling with fiber optic lights, the perforated metal ceiling vault appears solid but is, in fact, acoustically transparent, allowing sound to travel to an upper ceiling. The upper ceiling is composed of seven moveable panels which can be adjusted to alter the volume of the concert hall and simulate a wide range of acoustic environments. Special acoustically absorptive panels in the side walls can be opened or closed to adjust the resonance of the auditorium. Encased in a grid of hand-​carved Malaysian wood screens with bronze accents, the walls and balconies have been shaped to reflect sound to the audience and the musicians while avoiding echoes. All materials and finishes have been carefully selected to enhance acoustic quality.