Key Information
Overview
HCL’s competition proposal for the National Concert Hall “Tautos Namai” envisioned a new cultural landmark set within the landscape of Tauras Hill. The architectural concept responds directly to its parkland setting, with a low, fluid building form conceived as two interconnected volumes nestled amongst the existing trees. The composition brings together the main concert hall and recital hall within a continuous sculptural envelope, creating a distinctive civic presence while maintaining a strong relationship with the surrounding landscape.
At the heart of the proposal are two clearly defined performance spaces, conceived as solid, light-reflecting forms held within a transparent outer enclosure. Internally, curved glass acoustic panels and integrated lighting create softly illuminated auditoria, while floating balconies and stage elements reinforce the fluid character of the architecture. The main 1,700-seat concert hall was developed from the established acoustic principles of the traditional ‘shoebox’ auditorium, adapted into an elongated hexagonal form to bring audiences closer to the stage and enhance acoustic performance.
The wider proposal integrates the concert hall into Tauras Hill as part of a renewed public landscape. Informal pathways, planting, seating and recreational spaces establish the building as an extension of the park rather than an isolated object, with improved pedestrian routes strengthening connections back into the city. The landscape remains predominantly soft and green, retaining the character and seasonal use of the hill while introducing new opportunities for public gathering and events.
Environmental performance was embedded within the concept through passive design principles, natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting and solar energy. The predominantly glazed external envelope and light-reflective concert hall volumes create a building that responds to changing daylight conditions and becomes softly illuminated within the landscape after dark.
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