BIG drapes croatian music hall in limestone curtains

Bjarke Ingels Group unveils EVE Music Hall in croatia

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and developer Marko Pepunić reveal new images of EVE Music Hall as construction advances toward completion in Čepin, eastern Croatia. Conceived as a major cultural destination for the Slavonia region, the 10,000-square-meter venue combines a live music hall, congress facilities, exhibition spaces, a café, rooftop event areas, and outdoor gathering grounds. Scheduled to open in early 2027, the project marks BIG’s first building in Croatia and is expected to become the first completed music performance venue by the studio.

Set within the expansive agricultural landscape of eastern Croatia, EVE Music Hall appears as two monumental volumes rising from the flat horizon of the Slavonian fields. The larger structure accommodates a live music venue, while a smaller hall hosts congresses and complementary programs. Positioned around a shared public foyer, the two venues can operate independently or simultaneously, allowing the complex to accommodate a wide range of events, from concerts and exhibitions to conferences and festivals. Together, the indoor venues can host nearly 4,000 visitors, while the surrounding outdoor grounds can accommodate up to 25,000 guests during large-scale events.

BIG wraps the building in locally sourced limestone panels that descend toward the ground in sweeping folds, evoking theatrical curtains opening onto performances within. The sculptural facades create a distinct silhouette against the surrounding fields while framing entrances and strategic openings that reveal glimpses of interior activity. The gesture reinforces the dual identity of the project as both cultural infrastructure and landmark. ‘The EVE Music Hall is conceived as a musical eruption on the infinite horizon of the Slavonian fields,’ explains Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director of BIG. ‘Two concert halls, one big and one small, frame a public space between them. Facades of timber and stone are draped like fabrics, merging the verticality of the halls with the horizontality of the landscape.’

all images by SIRRAH projekt and BIG

timber structure and mirrored interiors shape the foyer

Visitors approach the venue through landscaped pedestrian routes leading toward the central foyer between the two halls. Inside, suspended timber beams curve overhead to form a tent-like roof structure, extending downward into integrated seating elements that animate the public gathering space. Mirrored walls lining the concert halls amplify daylight and movement throughout the interior, creating reflections that visually extend the architecture and connect visitors with the surrounding countryside.

The main music hall is designed to accommodate a variety of performance formats, including seated concerts, orchestral performances, standing audiences, and large-scale productions. Meanwhile, the congress hall offers flexible configurations for conferences, presentations, and exhibitions. Rooftop event areas and outdoor festival grounds further expand the program beyond the building envelope, enabling year-round use across multiple scales and event types.

Developed as part of a broader vision to establish a cultural and social destination in eastern Croatia, EVE Music Hall seeks to bring large-scale events and contemporary cultural programming to the Slavonia region. Describing the project as an example of ‘utopian pragmatism,’ Ingels sees the architecture as embodying the seemingly contradictory ambition of creating a regional cultural landmark within a rural landscape. As construction nears completion, the project positions itself as a new focal point for music, events, and public life in eastern Croatia.

outdoor festival grounds allow EVE Music Hall to host events for up to 25,000 visitors