Grand Auditorium of the Maison de la Radio

Directly accessible from the large landscaped square, the Grand Auditorium of the Maison de la Radio fits seamlessly into the overall restructuring plan. At the intersection of the new reception areas of the renovated building, a new nave and vast glazed foyers opening onto the Seine escort the spectators to the hall.

Displaying a grandeur befitting a philharmonic concert hall in the heart of the Maison de la Radio, the Auditorium instantly immerses the audience in a magnificence deserving of the most prestigious concert performances. The auditorium possesses exceptional acoustic qualities, developed in close partnership with acoustics expert Yasu Toyota of Nagata Acoustics, based on a “music-centred” spatial configuration. The audience, divided into small groups around the stage, enjoy immediate proximity to the orchestra. The furthest distance between the audience and the central point of the stage is about 17 metres. The stage size is comparable to the largest contemporary concert stages, consisting of a vast central platform, 22 metres wide and 15 metres deep. In line with axis of the concert hall, above the choir steps, the wooden walls open up to reveal the monumental organ designed by Gerhard Grenzing. This major restructuring project will further enhance the cultural prestige of Maison de la Radio and reflects Radio France’s desire to open the building and its programming to a wide audience.