Gerriets acoustic solutions at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg

Umkirch, 25. January 2017
Acoustic roller banners by Gerriets provide variable room acoustics in Hamburg's new landmark

After more than 12 years of planning and construction, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg was opened on 11.01.2017. The concert hall designed by the Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron is one of the architectural landmarks of the Hanseatic city. In addition to a plaza, hotel and restaurants, the Elbphilharmonie complex has a total of three concert halls: the Great Hall with a total of 2.100 seats, the Small Hall for 550 visitors and the Kaistudio, which is designed for around 150 people. The acoustics played a decisive role in the design of the halls; this is also confirmed by the collaboration with the renowned Japanese acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota. We are especially proud of the fact that Gerriets acoustic solutions also provide the perfect sound experience at the Elbphilharmonie.

In the Great Hall alone, 81 motorized and variable double-roller G-SORBER banner systems have been installed in recent months, which are driven up from the floor. The individual modules are 3.00 m (9,84') wide and up to 2.60 m (8,53') high. The resulting maximum variability allows the reverberation time to be optimally matched to the respective use of the room. In addition to the roller banners, Gerriets supplied four TRUMPF 95 curtain track systems including Gerriets’ FRICTION DRIVE motors, as well as curtains from the multi-award-winning, high-sound absorbing textile ABSORBER CS for the backstage of the orchestra.

In the Small Hall, Gerriets installed 52 G-SORBER systems, which are up to 1.70 m (5,58') wide and 6.50 m (21,33') high. The acoustic roller banners built into the ceiling and powered by a motor are provided with a curtain of a completely newly developed, flame retardant Trevira CS fabric with a particularly high absorption value.

At the Kaistudio, Gerriets installed a 6.00 x 6.00 m (19,69' x 19,69') RUNWAY PLUS roller screen system. In addition, TRUMPF 95 and ELEGANCE track systems with ABSORBER CS curtains were installed in the Kaistudio as well as in ten other rehearsal rooms.

Gerriets was commissioned by the general contractor of the Elbphilharmonie, the international construction group HOCHTIEF and its subcontractor Waagner Biro. Further orders to Gerriets were placed by the following companies: SBS Bühnentechnik, K. Rogge Spezialbau and Gronau.