Auditorium Maurice-Ravel, Lyon
The brutalist auditorium building in one's reinforced concrete shell was erected in 1975 by the Architect Henri Pottier. This massive monolith hosts 160 events each season with internationally renowned performers and key world-wide soloists from the musical scene.
From 2014 to 2023, Kahle Acoustics worked on improving the Auditorium Maurice-Ravel acoustics. From the acoustical brief to the feasibility study which was followed by a design contract, Kahle Acoustics contributed to significantly improve the acoustics on stage for the users (the Orchestre National de Lyon or ONL) and the audience' sake.
Information Sheet
Renovation/Transformation Auditorium Maurice-Ravel www.auditorium-lyon.com
Location Lyon, France.
Project Cost 300 000 €.
Time Frame Definition of the acoustical brief: 2014. Programme development and feasibility study: 2017-2021. Design and construction: 2022-2023. Opening: September 2023.
Owner City of Lyon, France.
Architect(s) Original design: Henri Pottier (1912-2000).
Theatre Planner(s) ArtScéno, Switzerland artsceno.ch
Seat Count A 2 055-seat auditorium of prestressed concrete. Total gross floor area of the auditorium stage: 450 m². Total gross floor area of the building: 4 500 m².
Uses A performance hall with seat-capacity variability to accommodate symphonic music, chamber music, recitals, film-concert lives, young audience shows, jazz, world and amplified music.
Services Room acoustics consultancy services from programming to feasibility study, acoustic diagnostic, acoustic design, construction supervision and tuning/commissioning.
Team Émilie Carayol, Vincent Berrier, Yann Jurkiewicz, Cees Mulder, Eckhard Kahle, Kahle Acoustics.
The Auditorium Maurice-Ravel as seen from the last balcony during a recording session by the Orchestre National de Lyon. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
Acoustic measurements post acoustic improvements with its wall reflective panels. The backwall panels are fixed and the lateral ones are foldable. This enhances the acoustic quality for musicians on stage. Each wall panel has its own tilt in order not to interfere with the vertical movement of the suspended reflectors. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
Acoustic measurements post acoustic improvements. View on the lateral reflective panels foldable on the ends of the organ wall. Once folded by manual handling it leaves free way for material to go through the access door. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
Auditorium Maurice-Ravel: the acoustic absorbing finishes on come concave parts of the parterre backwall and of the first balcony were suppressed so as to enhance the reverberance of the hall and allow musicians to get better feedback from the hall. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
Auditorium Maurice-Ravel: here running acoustic tests for the Orchestre National de Lyon with an extended backwall acoustic curtain. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
The Auditorium Maurice-Ravel designed by the Architect Henri Pottier. Photo © Kahle Acoustics