The Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre (KKL), located in Lucerne, Switzerland, is an architectural masterpiece that serves as a premier venue for concerts, conferences, and cultural events. It was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and completed in 1998.
The KKL is characterized by expansive glass facades and a striking, cantilevered roof that extends over the waterfront. The diagonal of the unsupported section measures 45 meters.
KKL Luzern and its roof
KKL Luzern and its water garden
Built right on the shores of Lake Lucerne, KKL Luzern manages to create a fluid distinction between inside and outside: water channels lead into the building and large windows allow beautiful views of the city and lake.
Inside, the building houses the prestigious Concert Hall, known for its exceptional acoustics, which attract world-class musicians and orchestras. The entrances to the Concert Hall have red carpets and thus use a different colour schema than the concert hall itself.
View from inside the KKL Luzern towards the city
entrance to the KKL Luzern concert hall
KKL Luzern
The "Salle blanche" Concert Hall has seating for 1898 spectators and has the reputation of being among the most beautiful in Switzerland. It is all in tones of blue and white, from the blue seats to the white plaster reliefs on the walls to the night-blue starry sky.
"Salle blanche" - KKL concert hall
KKL concert hall
American acoustician Russell Johnson used the dimensions of the famous concert halls of Vienna and Amsterdam as his acoustic models. The "Salle blanche" features an acoustic canopy above the stage as well as fifty revolving echo chamber doors, allowing to adapt the hall's acoustics to any type of event.
KKL concert hall - salle blanche
KKL concert hall - acoustic canopy
KKL concert hall - view from the stage
The total construction costs of the KKL were slightly above 220 million Swiss francs. The opening concert was played by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Claudio Abbado on August 18, 1998.
The KKL Luzern won the Swiss Location Award in 2016 as "Switzerland's best congress location".
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