Città della Musica

Overview

Città della Musica (The City of Music) in Lugano, Switzerland represents a significant cultural initiative aimed at creating a vibrant hub for musical training, sound heritage preservation, and national and international musical activities. This ambitious project emerged from the acquisition of the Radiotelevision della Svizzera italiana (formerly Lugano Radio Studio) buildings in Besso by the City of Lugano, with the primary goal of providing a new home for the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana (Conservatory of Italian Switzerland) and the Fonoteca nazionale svizzera (Swiss National Sound Archives). The project not only fills a void left by the relocation of these institutions but also enriches Lugano’s cultural landscape by fostering collaborations and activities across various levels, leading to substantial cultural and economic benefits for the community and the wider cantonal territory.

Program

In November 2023, the Basel-based Architecture Club’s competition entry was announced as the successful design in the bid for Città della Musica. The project will transform the former radio studios and offices into individual practice rooms, ensemble spaces, classrooms, a cafeteria, and administrative offices. A new building will also be constructed to accommodate drum rooms, additional ensemble rooms, and other functional areas.

A key aspect is the construction of a versatile Concert Hall designed to serve as a rehearsal space for the Lugano Symphony Orchestra during the day, and as a commercial Chamber Music Concert Hall in the evenings. The Concert Hall’s design incorporates operable seating ramps that can be retracted into the walls, optimising the space for different performance modes. In addition, the lower floors of the Concert Hall building will hold two substantial Choir Rehearsal Halls, one equipped with an organ.

WSDG’s involvement encompasses structural/isolation acoustics, room acoustics, and AV systems integration. Collaboration with renowned consultant, Nagata Acoustics, particularly in the Concert Hall, adds depth and expertise to the project.

Design

The design of each room and space within Città della Musica is meticulously crafted to harmonise acoustic excellence, technological innovation, and aesthetic appeal. Each space is planned to meet specific acoustic and functional requirements, ensuring optimal conditions for musical education, rehearsal, performance, and audience experience.

The project poses several challenges for WSDG, such as converting low-reverberant radio studio spaces into acoustically lively and diffuse ensemble rooms within existing structural constraints. Additionally, because the music rooms are located in close proximity to each other, the WSDG team needs to carefully plan the structural acoustic buildouts to prevent sound spillage and ensure that each learning environment is fully optimised. The Concert Hall’s multifaceted usage profile presents acoustical variability challenges, which WSDG will address using advanced simulation platforms, industry expertise, and innovative solutions tailored to each space’s unique needs.

Photographer credit: Architecture Club GmbH, Basel