Cityscape: Hamburg's latest will have them staring and singing

The Hamburg skyline has been getting a slow but dramatic makeover for the past decade. That’s how long the the Elbphilharmonie concert hall has been under construction, but come January they’ll be cutting the ribbon and throwing the first event in the new space.
 The massive building is the work of world-famous Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron, known for their attention to detail and innovative use of material.

First, the exterior: The form of the building was inspired by sports stadiums, ancient theaters and tents. Yes, camping tents. The geometry is all designed with acoustics at top of mind. The brick base is actually a warehouse from 1875 that was destroyed in WWII, restored, and extensively renovated yet again in preparation for this project. Now this historic port locale is experiencing a new life once more with the completion of this gorgeous anchor building.

 The futuristic glazed facade on top is actually made up of 1,100 glass panes,

individually shaped “to millimeter precision,” and treated to prevent overheating.

The space that connects the old and the new is called the “plaza”, made from 250,000 custom-made clay bricks, and it will be opening this November to the public. From it you get panoramic views of the city.
The inside is just as impressive as the outside: the structure houses three concert halls, a 250-room hotel, and 45 private apartments. The grand hall’s seashell-pattern “white skin” wall treatment is the result of extensive research into materiality and acoustics, and is designed to optimize the sound and carry it to every seat in the house.

Entertainment: Keys clamps down on cell phones at her shows

- from JAZZIZ

R&B songstress Alicia Keys has adopted a strict no-cell phone policy at her concert performances. People attending Keys’ concerts will now be required to place their phones in something called a “Yondr Case,” a small neoprene phone case that locks as concert goers enter the venue. When the concert is over, the patrons will simply tap their phones on a small metal place, which will unlock the case as they leave the venue.

The technology allows the concert-goer to keep their phones in their possessions throughout the performance without the ability to use it. So far, this new technology has been used by such musicians as folk rock band The Lumineers in some of their concerts and comedians Louis C.K. and Dave Chapelle are reportedly planning to use it for some of their upcoming shows.

The “Yondr Case” allows both artists and venues to get around possible lawsuits that may result from confiscating cell phones and the impracticality of banning them completely.