Philharmonie de Paris designed by Jean Nouvel by Wikimedia Commons
One of the newest architectural designs in Paris, Philharmonie de Paris stuns visitors as much with its design as with its music. The elegant concert hall is designed like a woven basket, with aluminum panels wrapping tightly around the structure in what appears like seamless interweaving metal strips. Along the exterior, images of 340,000 birds can be seen in a variety of positions and colors to signify a grand take-off. The interior of the concert hall is no less impressive. Utilizing the ingenious design of the Philharmonie Berlin, the design brings a more intimate feel between the symphony’s performers and audience by closing the physical gap. With circular seating on several tiers and balconies that curve toward the center stage, the farthest spectator sits only 32 metres from the conductor, an improvement over the traditional 40 to 50 metres in most large concert halls. The intimate layout allows music lovers to do just what they came to the symphony to do: immerse themselves in the music.