In Tuesday’s (9/24) Telegraph (United Kingdom), Danielle Demetriou reports, “The abstract structure called Ark Nova, created by the British sculptor Anish Kapoor and Arata Isozaki, the Japanese architect, will stage world-class concerts, events and workshops. The concert hall, which was established in collaboration with the organizers of Lucerne Festival, consists of a single skin membrane that can be easily inflated or deflated to enable its transportation around the region. The opening weekend will take place in the pretty coastal town Matsushima [Japan]…which was badly buffeted by the 2011 tsunami. … Wood from tsunami-damaged cedar trees at Zuiganji Temple in Matsushima were used to create material for both acoustic reflectors and seating in the concert hall, which stretches 30m by 36m. … The inaugural weekend…will include concerts by the Sendai Philharmonic, traditional Japanese kabuki performances and musical workshops for children. The concept…was the brainchild of Michael Haefliger, the artistic and executive director of the…Lucerne Festival. ‘The images of 11 March, 2011 have left their mark on all of us. … With…[this] project we hope to give the people who are living with this situation something more than everyday pleasure. Combining different arts and cultures, this project is a fascinating symbiosis of architecture, design, folkloristic and classical music as well as music education.’”
Posted September 27, 2013
