Abu Dhabi reveals design for youth concert hall by the late Frank Gehry
Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism has unveiled plans for a concert hall dedicated to young musicians, designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry before his death.
Expected to open in January 2027 in the Mina Zayed port district, the Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi will contain a 600-seat concert hall and 18 rehearsal rooms.
The orchestra building, designed by Gehry before he died in December last year, will have a more pared-back appearance compared to the fluid, organic forms for which the architect is famed.
Renders show a two-tiered building with long, straight rooflines and tall glass facades broken up by white panels.
Inside, wood will line the staircases and balcony walkways, and the top floor will open onto rooftop terraces.
Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi will provide free access to musical education programmes for children aged six to nine, with the first cohort enrolling 100 students.
"The Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi is an important investment in our future and in our commitment to making culture and creativity accessible to all," said Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak.
"Through its free access to world-class music education programmes, we are creating opportunities for young people to discover their talent, develop their potential and experience the lifelong benefits that music can bring," he continued.
"As Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its position as a global centre for culture and creativity, and as a UNESCO Creative City of Music, institutions such as this ensure the next generation has every opportunity to participate in, contribute to and shape our cultural future, while preserving the rich musical traditions that form an important part of our heritage."
Elsewhere in Abu Dhabi, construction is underway on Gehry's Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi, a performing arts venue cloaked in a rippling, fabric-like exterior.
The architect's long-awaited Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is expected to open to the public on Saadiyat Island on 11 December.
The images are courtesy of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi.
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