Musiikki- ja puhesalien akustisen suunnittelun vaiheita 1900-luvulla

Authors

• Alpo Halme

Abstract

The development of acoustic planning of concert and oration halls in the 20th century

The first actual concert halls were built at the end of the 18th century. By the beginning of the 20th century numerous concert, theatre and opera houses with excellent acoustic qualities had been built. The main principle of planning and implementation was to follow good and functional examples and to avoid bad ones.
The period between the beginning of the 20th century and the Second World War was decisive for acoustic planning of concert and theatre halls. A new dimension, time, came along. Radio broadcasting set new acoustic demands for these spaces. The intensity and frequency division of sound could be measured. In architecture, functionalism changed building traditions thoroughly. Unfortunately, it turned out that acoustic knowledge concerning planning and building of music halls was not sufficient, and many unsuccessful outcomes were produced.
By the 1960s, measuring techniques had developed in such a way that acoustic measurements with scale models became possible. By the 80s, improved acoustic knowledge concerning music halls made possible the implementation of spaces with good acoustic qualities. Computer aided modelling became common. Nowadays an acoustic expert takes part in the planning and designing process of concert halls from the very beginning.