"The great problem of the concert hall is that the shoebox is the ideal shape for acoustics but that no architect worth their names wants to build a shoebox"
- Rem Koolhaas
About this Quote
This quote by Rem Koolhaas speaks to the difficulty of developing auditorium that are both visually pleasing and acoustically sound. The "shoebox" shape is the ideal shape for acoustics, as it allows sound to reverberate and fill the area. Nevertheless, designers are typically hesitant to create an auditorium in this shape, as it is not considered visually pleasing. This produces a dilemma for designers, as they need to balance the need for great acoustics with the desire to produce an aesthetically appealing area. Koolhaas' quote highlights the problem of this job, as designers must discover a method to produce an auditorium that is both visually pleasing and acoustically noise.
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