The Benedict Music Tent

The Benedict Music Tent in Aspen, CO, is one of my favorite structures. The original tent was designed by Finish/American architect Eero Saarinen in 1949, to be replaced by Herbert Bayer’s design in 1964. Both of the designs were temporary structures. Every summer they were erected, and every fall the were taken down. However In 2000, Harry Teague Architects, a local firm to Aspen was asked to replace the temporary tent with a more robust, year-round version with a similar atmosphere but improved acoustics. And they did. The Benedict Music Tent is phenomenal.  To many of our opera buildings and music halls are exclusive, This is not, this is a inclusive building. Just like Eero Saarinen and Herbert Bayer thought it should be Harry Teague Architects opened it up to the Aspen trees around. The new structure have walls that open on all sides. The sound of music lets people sit outside and enjoy as well as inside. The idea of sharing a experience of both nature and sound is so well executed that it leaves no room for thinking that it was not deliberate. 
 

 

somebody sitting in the sun enjoying the music that is being played inside. You can see more of this here