The Concept
The Extraordinary Instrument
Buildings, as distinct from all other arts, carry a particular silent power that is rendered more potent in a time when all media, all information, and all voices attempt to speak at higher and higher decibels. Rather than seek novelty in form, architecture must create inspired experience. When we build we provide measure and reference for society, but more, buildings amplify our perceptions, understanding and aspirations. The more specific and focused the act of building, the more significant its impact upon individuals and the more profound its participation within our cities. It is this essence, revealed in the architecture, which will resonate within a culture and endure through time.
The National Music Centre is an extraordinary instrument, silent and powerful, brought to life by its programs, collections and performances. The new building forms rise as sentinels around the re-born King Eddy, marking the entry to the East Village and new Music District. The towers are beautifully crafted cases that hold the specific potential of a rich musical experience. The building, a gathering of resonant vessels, exists to be ‘played’ – to emanate music, light and activity.
The new design draws from the iconic landscapes of Canada: evoking the canyons and mountains of the west, the silence of the prairies and the energy and diversity of urban space. These forces and influences are concentrated into the National Music Centre, creating a spirit of architecture that inspires and renews.
Inside, new experiences that synthesize architecture, music and interactive media unfold. More than an empty vessel for the programs and collections, the building is the bridge between audience and performer, student and teacher, the body and the collection. It invites inquiry and experimentation, and is a point of contact between hands, minds, materials and ideas. Like a well-crafted instrument, the architecture is capable of a wide range of expression, and holds the potential to create profound, personal and moving experience.
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By Y, August 26, 2009 @ 10:23 am
‘forms rise as sentinels around the re-born King Eddy’ – a cluster of building doeths not a concept make.
‘inside, new experiences that synthesize architecture, music and interactive media unfold. More than an empty vessel for the programs and collections, the building is the bridge between audience and performer, student and teacher, the body and the collection.’ – how does these buildings do this, where is the synethesis?
‘evoking…the silence of the prairies’ – i never knew that either prairies or building were not silent, why would you need to evoke the silence of the prairies for buildings. how is this an inspiration? if this is a building for music, why are we evoking silence?
architecture firm ‘allied works’ – what you have presented is NOT a concept. it is a few renderings with a few big words interlaced with ‘music,’ ‘instrument,’ to contexulise the renderings for this brief. the big words are probably taken from a book on louis kahn.
i suggest you re write your design intent statement, tweak the rendering and find a competition for a military base to submit this concept to. because one thing that did ring true was the word ’sentinels.’ which is exactly what these buildings are, they are soldiers guarding king eddy, not for protection, but to keep him under house arrest
By Y, August 26, 2009 @ 12:06 pm
i just watched the video. i didn’t think it was possible but i am more confused. and i may have found ANOTHER inspirator for this project.
By Christian Ciesielski, September 5, 2009 @ 2:43 pm
Nice pitching…
…if only for the win, the gam{bl)ing spirit Calgary has all too much of.
Music is about playing; ‘play’ in music, real music, requires spontaneity, playing on notes, tones, dynamics, and volume. Nothing contrived out of previously designed forms that were conceptualized for ‘other’ functions or ‘competitions’ – architecture for marketing’s sake – , even with a (clean and sterile) rendering and pseudo-personable narrator with trained diction, could produce a reciprocative idea that would earn the [design]-ation of the title “The National Music Centre”.
C-S-C
krysc@op.pl
By Y not?, September 18, 2009 @ 10:53 am
That’s a pretty harsh review of Allied Works’ design. Looks like you bashed every other project as well though, so at least there is some consistency.
This is the only design that relates to the scale of a human. It creates a friendly street facade by how the building meets the ground. And it is makes a surprisingly delicate building out of stone by breaking up the city block into smaller volumes. There are a lot of smart loves happening in these renderings, and I think this is the design to beat. I guess we’ll find out soon though, September is already almost over!
By Dave, September 24, 2009 @ 9:08 am
What a disappointment. This was my least preferred concept. There was too much focus on trying to architecturalize music, as opposed to making the development a space to interact with people and experience music. The proposal should incorporated more public space in the form of a street oriented concert hall. The proposal is simply a series of monolithic structures, with no active edges along the street. It just looks like somewhere where you hole up musicians for the winter. It looks like a fortress.
By Dave H, September 24, 2009 @ 9:57 am
To Dave’s comment of Sept 24 9:08 am. I couldn’t agree with you more. Yet another barrier to movement and motion between the spaces around our city.
By Ahamed, September 24, 2009 @ 10:55 am
This is embarrassing and I am ashamed that this “DESIGN” is going to be build and I want to cry!!! Are you (Comitee)out of your freakin’ mind??? This excrement is a horrible “structure”, if you can call this thrown together buildings with no visual appeal ! Look at the top rendering (Exterior View). So for you this IS IT?? Embarrassing, you guys should be freakin’ fired and never be allowed to judge something important like this here, at least not in my town! Go somewhere else, go to the US, Europe or Ant-mothereffen-arctica..don’t mess up my town, culture and eff with my history!
You guys are a disgrace
By price, September 24, 2009 @ 1:13 pm
While I acknowledge this wasn’t my particular favourite among the concepts, upon further review and inspection I have come to understand and appreciate what Allied Works has done here. In fact, it has more than grown on me; it has become my favourite.
I think one must dig deeper than the conceptual drawings. Let’s not forget these aren’t likely to be exactly what the completed building will look like, rather a creative starting point for consideration, as with all architectural concepts. (Take the time to look at some preliminary drawings to final result images of some of the most beautiful architecural works.)
I think Allied, in my review of wealth of materials Cantos has provided through the process, has done one of the best jobs of integrating the music, the performance and the museum concepts.
I have also had the privledge to see a couple of Allied’s buildings up close and personal and I can tell you that they are stunning and I truly look forward to the rising of a building for which Calgary can be proud and by which I am captured – I, for one, am confident we will get it!
By Chantal, September 24, 2009 @ 2:10 pm
Hi Andrew – I just saw the artist renderings of Cantos’ new space – WOW!! Bold and beautiful. Can’t wait! Radio station, live music venue, museum – the article didn’t mention anything about a cafeteria though – there’s gonna be a cafeteria, right?? lol
I think you should have a competition for an exclusive Cantos signature pastry. My vote would go to the one shaped like a treble clef.
Best of luck with everything!
xox
Chant
By Steve E, September 24, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
Andrew and the whole Cantos team–
Mazel tov on the unveiling of the design of your new home. I think the project will be an added and spectacular jewel to Calgary. Along with others planned for the neighbourhood, your space will help make Calgary a musical and cultural Mecca.
Well done. I look forward to the building’s progress. You should all be proud of the work you’ve done and what’s yet to come.
Steve E.
By cindym, September 24, 2009 @ 3:22 pm
FANTASTIC!!! Congratulations Cantos! I’m excited for you and for our fair city!
By Angie, September 24, 2009 @ 4:03 pm
You have spend little to no time on the prairies if you think they are silent! So much sound. You just have to listen.
By Dave Woodside, September 25, 2009 @ 12:19 pm
Congrats on choosing the design for the new music centre. I’m sure it was a difficult decision, but I really like the one you went with. The more I learn about it, the more I appreciate the potential this new design has to be a great space for public gatherings and performances. It is definitely unique, and adds some interesting architecture to Calgary. Too often we borrow from other cities. This gives our city a truly original and imaginative building.
By Blane Hogue, September 25, 2009 @ 5:05 pm
Congratulations on the final choice of architect and design – an amazing feat, Andrew. This will be a dramatic addition to the Calgary scene.
By Jason M., September 25, 2009 @ 11:55 pm
Congratulations Andrew, the Cantos team, and Allied Works. From its beginnings as an exhibition gallery in the late 90s, to its merger with TriumphEnt, and now onwards to this, I am delighted not only with how far you have come, but the amazing places Cantos will be going. The design for the National Music Centre is as courageous as it is forward-thinking, compelling, and unique; there is nothing else like this in the world, and I believe you have plotted a course that will truly breathe life into the East Village and even further establish Calgary as a dynamic centre of creativity and inspiration. Again, well done. You should be proud of where you have been and what the future holds.
By Clint Robertson, September 29, 2009 @ 1:15 pm
I applaud Cantos’ design selection. The chosen design was the most sensitive of the short-listed designs in retaining the King Edward Hotel’s architectural fabric. The design will rehabilitate the King Edward Hotel to a high standard – hats off to Cantos and Allied Works Architecture!
By Dimitri Papatheodorou, October 13, 2009 @ 8:31 am
I believe the reference to “silence” is to contrast the urban from the rural. Although their are sounds in the Praries, it the sound of silence… wind, animals, rain etc., and not the sounds of urban life.
This architecture has the potential to be a milestone design in the history of architecture. Time will tell. Calgary is heading in the right direction… well done!
By Dimitri Papatheodorou, October 13, 2009 @ 8:35 am
apology for the grammar and spelling… once you click you can’t go back and edit.
By Narda, December 27, 2009 @ 1:15 pm
How exciting! Way to go Cantos! You are adding life and music to our city. Something to be proud of indeed!
By Terry Townson, January 19, 2010 @ 7:09 pm
I played the Eddy years back with blues great Clarence Gatemouth Brown. The Eddy was never just another blues bar… something in the soul/history of the structure brought out our best every time we played there. Today I’m just passing through town on tour, but would love to have the option of hearing a band at the Eddy again. This is the first I’ve heard of Cantos and their National Music Center. I realize this concept is much more than just recreating the King Edward, but I’ll support anyone that will help preserve the name and history of the Eddy.
All the Best,
~Terry Townson