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How did the Berlin Philharmonic Concert Hall express its purpose through its design?

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The Great Court at the British Museum in London features a large central rotunda surrounded by wide steps and a glass and steel lattice roof, with visitors walking throughout the space. — Architecture The Great Court, designed by Foster and Partners, 2000; in the British Museum, London.

The Berlin Philharmonic Concert Hall, designed by Hans Scharoun and completed in 1963, expresses its purpose through a revolutionary "performance in the round" layout that prioritizes both social connection and acoustic excellence.1

Scharoun’s design reflects the belief that music is a communal experience, drawing inspiration from the way people naturally gather in a circle to listen to music. To foster this intimacy, he arranged seating blocks at varying levels and angles—resembling a hillside vineyard—ensuring that no audience member is seated more than 115 feet from the podium.1

This "inside-out" design approach also serves the hall's acoustic purpose. Working with acoustician Lothar Cremer, Scharoun utilized folded planes, raked terraces, and a canopied ceiling to optimize sound quality. These architectural modifications act as essential focusing elements, managing reverberation and sound distribution to ensure the orchestra achieves the necessary blend and clarity for the listener. The building’s irregular exterior form is a direct reflection of this complex, organic internal landscape, clearly signaling its function as a space dedicated to the performance of music.123