Baku Crystal Hall
by GMP Architekten

These previously unseen photographs show the faceted modular structure of the Baku Crystal Hall in Azerbaijan, which was designed and completed in just eight months (+ slideshow).

The building, which was presented earlier this month at the Inside Festival in Singapore, had to be designed and constructed simultaneously to be ready in time to host last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, so German firm GMP Architekten collaborated closely with contractors Alpine Bau Deutschland and Nüssli throughout the process.

Conceived as both a concert hall and a sports stadium, the 25,000-seat stadium comprises a lightweight steel structure with a faceted membrane facade intended to resemble cut crystal.

According to Nussli’s Claus Kruppa, it was originally planned as a temporary structure, but was subtly altered during construction to enable it to remain in place for longer.

“A small change in the drawings, and now it’s going to be there for 30-40 years,” he said.

The building is located on a peninsula outside the centre of Baku. Its facade is covered with 9500 LED lights, which bring the structure to life after dark.

Here’s a timelapse movie showing the building’s construction, featuring the winning song from the 2012 Eurovision Contest:

GMP Architekten has worked on several venues for international events. In 2011 the firm completed four stadiums for the World University Games in Shenzhen, while three of its stadiums featured in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Photography is by Marcus Bredt.

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