Thailand Phil European Tour Diary [Day 6] Narodowe Forum Muzyki

The National Forum of Music (Narodowe Forum Muzyki), located in the heart of Wrocław and being one of the largest and most modern music venues in Poland, houses the main concert hall with 1800 seats and three additional chamber music halls. Furthermore it includes a recording studio, conference and office space, a library, rehearsal and dressing rooms, cloak rooms, cafés, and bookstores for music lovers. The postmodern building was completed in 2015 and designed by APA Kuryłowicz & Associates, selected through an international architectural contest in 2005. The author of the project, the late Stefan Kuryłowicz (one of the most influential Polish architects) held a doctorate in the field of concert hall architecture.

The building rises on today’s Wolności Square, the former Royal Forum, and fits into the historic and architectural context of the city centre’s diverse styles as “a space for beauty”. Wrocław held the title of European Capital of Culture in 2016, hosting significant artistic events, e.g. the European Film Awards and the Theatre Olympics.

NFM is designed to please the eye and ear. The shape of the building and the finish of the façade resembles a string instrument, while the black walls of the foyer and white stairs refer to a piano keyboard. Every music room was designed with state-of-the-art acoustics and has been acoustically isolated from the rest of the building from external sources of noise and vibrations. Thanks to the highest acoustic standards, no sounds other than music will be heard during concerts at the NFM.