Sibelius Hall
Timber concert and congress hall on Lake Vesijärvi, home of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra.
Sibelius Hall opened in 2000 on the former timber harbour at Lake Vesijärvi, built around a brick joinery works of 1907 that once belonged to the Lahti furniture industry. The architects Hannu Tikka and Kimmo Lintula wrapped the old factory in new structures of glued laminated timber and glass, making the building a showcase for Finnish wood engineering. Its glazed Forest Hall foyer, framed by timber lattice columns, faces the lake and links the concert hall to the restored brick block.
The main auditorium seats about 1,250 and has an adjustable reverberation chamber behind the stage, giving it a reputation as one of the finest concert acoustics in the Nordic countries. It is the home of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, which records widely and hosts the annual Sibelius Festival at the start of September. Alongside symphony concerts the building takes chamber music, congresses, fairs and popular music, and a restaurant occupies part of the old factory.
Highlights
- Glued laminated timber construction wrapped around a 1907 brick joinery works
- Main hall seating about 1,250 with an adjustable reverberation chamber
- Glazed Forest Hall foyer with timber lattice columns facing Lake Vesijärvi
- Home of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and the annual Sibelius Festival
