The building of the Philharmonie de Paris, designed by Jean Nouvel, is a unique architectural work in the Parc de La Villette in the French capital. The seating installed inside was specifically created for the hall by Jean Nouvel in partnership with Figueras. Up to 10 acoustic tests, in laboratories in Paris and Barcelona, were needed to achieve the desired product.

Jean Nouvel gave the Philharmonie concert hall a unique shape, as it is an adjustable space that surrounds the spectator. The Grande Salle of the Philharmonie is not designed in a “vineyard” or “shoebox” shape like traditionally. The Grande Salle starts a new model, enveloping and moveable. Jean Nouvel chose a unique solution to offer a total and enveloping experience, placing the spectators in hanging balconies at different heights. In this way, they are immersed in the hall with the feeling of heading toward the orchestra. The sound literally wraps each of these spaces since it can circulate behind.

Next to the main acoustic engineer for the hall, Sir Harold Marshall of Marshall Day Acoustics, they created a hall with a perfect union of architecture, acoustics and staging. The 2‐2.3 second reverberation time in the Philharmonie de Paris creates a warm, transparent resonance. The perception of sound is the same for the entire audience, regardless of where they are in the hall, making the concert experience highly democratic.

The Challenge: a seat of demanding acoustic requirements
The challenge of the project for the engineers and designers of Figueras, laid in creating a seat with low acoustic absorption in a highly cushioned seat with warm thick upholstery which would otherwise be highly absorbent. This did allow higher reverberation to be generated not interfering in the perfect acoustics of the hall. A team of 12 Figueras experts ‐ designers and engineers‐ were involved in the project, which took several months of intensive work.

The Figueras team, led by the Figueras Design Centre ‐ a centre which mission is to turn the ideas and drawings of the seats conceived by architects into reality ‐ worked personally with Jean Nouvel Ateliers team. Also with the acoustic engineers and stage designers to ensure that the seating designed by Jean Nouvel Ateliers fulfilled the demanding acoustic requirements and contributed to the hall's exceptional all‐round acoustics.

The seat designed for the Grande Salle is wide and well‐cushioned, but it had to perform as it wasn't. Various changes to the seating and up to 10 acoustic tests, in laboratories in Paris and Barcelona, were needed to achieve the desired product. To achieve the desired level of absorption it was necessary to fill the thick cushions with non absorbent materials leaving the least possible soft foam thickness properly shaped and located to create an ergonomic shape that would guarantee a comfortable experience.

The Philharmonie seat is a tailor‐made product that adapts perfectly to all corners of the undulating hall. It is finished in 8 different upholstery colours, 5 different widths and 4 different shades of wood. The wood was treated to get the maximum possible shine, much like pianos, and the different coloured seats mark out different areas, in accordance with the architect's criteria.

1,800 Philharmonie model seats were installed, which feature a synchronised back and seat mechanism so that it takes up the minimum amount of space when folded up. The hall also has 282 seats in a variation on the same model with a fixed back for shallow tiers for the areas in the stands which are not very deep.

Figueras International Seating
Figueras International Seating is a global firm that leverages its engineering and design capabilities to create innovative seating and also seating systems that optimize space and enhance profitability. The firm’s strong reputation in the global market has attracted many clients and its seats are installed in iconic places, such as the White House pressroom, United Nations, Philharmonie the Paris, Hamer Hall, Cornell University or Musée Pompidou. The firm has worked with architects such as Foster + Partners, OMA, Jean Nouvel, Ricardo Bofill, and Cox Rayner. For more information www.figueras.com/us