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Dismal Hall

Posted by Bambi B (A) on October 11, 2009 at 15:52:43

In Reply to: RE: You may stream the Dudamel Inaugural concert through KUSC.org until Oct. 15th posted by Paul_A on October 11, 2009 at 12:55:43:

Paul A,

Disney Hall in my book is one of those magnificent failures as a building as it misses an important opportunity to make a great building in terms of function, architectural conceptual integrity as well as sculptural quality and culturally iconic properties. Yes, I have high expectations for a $250,000,000 building that took 15 years to realize and is intended to last 200 years!

However, it was designed as an outside form later filled with the required spaces- which are quite different from the outside form- and the result is a piece of casually floppy sculpture with a long rectangular box stuffed inside. The Box is supposed to be inspired by the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, but I don't recognise any architectural or sonic similarity.

The three concerts I've attended at Dismal have been cramped, $60+, and I can better hear the person 100' away rattling their programme than Uchida. The sound from close in centre in the orchestra is said to be very good as are the cheap seats at the back, but I haven't been in those sections. I am anxious to hear the "Bunch o' French Fries" organ get a good run.

There are many exciting spaces and vistas created in and around, but any human perceptual levels seems to me to be accidental, as are the entries- the Titanium shingle skirts are just lifted and rows of conventional doors put in. the bar on the Mezzanine too is a complete tacked in afterthought. Mainly, too much of the ground area is given over to the placements and sculptural qualities instead of making the seating a decent size. When I'm uncomfortable at a concert, much of the benefit of the music is lost through distraction- and this annoys me. And I'm not a giant- 6'2 and 175 lbs. My usual concert partner is 5'8" and 120 lbs and she complains too.

Overall, Dismal Hall is to me one of those great missed opportunities architecturally. -As is the other great monument to architectural ego in Los Angeles, the Getty Center, Brentwood- this time an $800,000,000, collection of ten randomly assembled corporate headquarters buildings. Still, at least there's a fun ride from the car parks.

Cheers,

Bambi B

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