Berlin Philharmonie

The Berlin Philharmonie, completed in 1963 to designs by Hans Scharoun, is one of the defining buildings of postwar expressionist architecture — its tent-like golden aluminum roof and deliberately asymmetrical silhouette broke every convention of the rectangular concert hall. Scharoun placed the orchestra at the center of the auditorium, surrounding it with terraced seating blocks, a configuration he described as 'music at the heart' that has since inspired concert halls worldwide. Built in West Berlin during the height of the Cold War, just a few hundred meters from the Wall, the building carried unmistakable cultural-political weight for the young Federal Republic. Today it remains home to the Berlin Philharmoniker and is widely regarded as one of the acoustically finest concert halls in existence. Guided architectural tours run alongside the concert season, which spans September through June.

Hans Scharoun's 1963 concert hall with the orchestra in the center, gold façade and one of the world's best acoustics.