The long awaited Philharmonie de Paris has finally opened, despite seven long years of delays and budget issues. However, not all are satisfied with the finished product. Jean Nouvel, star architect for the hall, decided to boycott the opening saying that the project wasn’t finished yet.
The new hall, which cost 386 million euro ($455 million), has had its fair share of issues. The hall was meant to open up two years ago and the budget for the 2,400 seat concert hall has tripled during its creation. Some blame Novel for the issues surrounding the hall, however, he is fighting back with a column in French newspaper Le Monde.
“I affirm that in no case was I at the origin of any cost overrun on this project. The public report of Cour des Comptes of February 2012 evokes “poor piloting”, “many delays related to the fluctuations of the public arbitrations” which “obviously influenced the cost of the operation,” he says.
Nouvel also believes that the concert hall has opened too early, without a proper test of the acoustics. “Today, the Philharmonie de Paris opens. Too early. The building is not finished. There were no acoustic tests of the concert hall,” his statement says “The schedule did not allow the architectural and technical requirements to be respected. This despite all the warnings which I have been giving since 2013.”
However, according to The Guardian, the acoustics for the opening night were very clear, thanks to four groups of acoustical engineers. The Philharmonie de Paris also hosts an exhibition space, six rehearsal rooms, two restaurants and education studios. The Orchestre de Paris and Ensemble Intercontemporain, a major international contemporary music group, will take up permanent residence. Two other orchestras and Les Arts Florissants, the Baroque vocal and instrumental ensemble, will perform there regularly.
The new hall hopes to bridge the divide between the wealthy concert-goer and the working class citizens. The hall will also provide a variety of programming, including world music, jazz, hip-hop and electro-pop concerts at low ticket prices.
