Abstract

Article was devoted for a study of vineyard configuration concert halls, considered as a concept allowing most innovative approach to the architectural and acoustical design, contemporary now and outgoing to the feature. Concept is based on two simple architectural manipulations that change overall spatial and sound perception of the room. Thus, there were two main aims set and proven: first-the most favourable acoustic conditions among today's concert halls with capacity over 1800 listeners can be provided by vineyard configuration, second-terrace solutions, alternative to rooms with boxed configurations and balconies, delivers architects the new possibilities for spatial shaping of concert interiors. Moreover, elaboration presents the authors’ definition of vineyard configuration, which targets at capturing all features of arrangement. Showing the favourable aspects of hall comes together with revealing limitations, in order to keep the study as fair as possible. Research were based on thorough and yearslong study for of both acoustical and architectural domains in pursuit of prove for novelty and usability of vineyard
configuration over others existing concert hall layouts. The method of research was: analysis, cooperative analysis, and mostly graphical analysis of photographs and illustrations gathered in situ and with the use of literature review. In the formulation of conclusions synthesis and critical review were used, for acoustical issues like: reverberation time, lateral acoustical wave reflection, volume, clarity, Initial Time Delay Gap (ITDG), Intermural Cross Correlation (IACC), acoustical field spaciousness and blend and architectural issues like: layout size, volume, visual perception of the interiors, overall room geometry, evacuation, capacity and human interactions.

Keywords: Architectural acoustics; Vineyard concert halls; Shoe-box shaped concert halls; Concert halls design; Concert halls