Designing A Public Building: The Taylor Concert Hall - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 11 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
Audio
Questions
Questions 31–40 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
DESIGNING A PUBLIC BUILDING:
THE TAYLOR CONCERT HALL
Introduction
The designer of a public building may need to consider the building’s
- function
- physical and 31 context
- symbolic meaning
Location and concept of the Concert Hall
On the site of a disused 32
Beside a 33
The design is based on the concept of a mystery
Building design
It’s approached by a 34 for pedestrians
The building is the shape of a 35
One exterior wall acts as a large 36
In the auditorium:
- the floor is built on huge pads made of 37
- the walls are made of local wood and are 38 in shape
- ceiling panels and 39 on walls allow adjustment of acoustics
Evaluation
Some critics say the 40 style of the building is inappropriate
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | social | this includes its physical location obviously, but it also includes the social meaning of the building how it relates to the people it’s built for | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that when designing a building, the designer needs to think about not just where the building is located, but also how the building is important to the community and the people around it. Answer Explanation: The answer 'social' means it is related to people and their connections with each other in their community. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'social' because the transcript mentions that the designer must consider the 'social meaning' of the building, which is how it relates to the people it serves. |
| Q32 | factory | The location chosen was a site in a run-down district that has been ignored in previous redevelopment plans. It was occupied by a factory that had been empty for some years. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about how the location chosen for the Concert Hall was in a neglected area, specifically on the grounds of a building that had not been in use for some time. Answer Explanation: The answer 'factory' refers to a type of building where goods are manufactured. In this context, it means that the Concert Hall was built on the abandoned site of a place where items were produced or assembled. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'factory' because the excerpt explicitly mentions that the site was previously occupied by a factory that was abandoned, fitting the description of a manufacturing facility. |
| Q33 | canal | The side itself was bordered to the north by a canal | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about a location that was next to a man-made waterway. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a man-made waterway that is used for transportation of goods or water. In this context, it's like a river. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer matches the description in the excerpt where it mentions a 'canal' as a waterway bordering the location. A canal is a man-made waterway constructed for navigation, water supply, or drainage, which fits the context provided. |
| Q34 | bridge | As people approach the entrance, they therefore have to cross over a bridge. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript describes how people approach the building by crossing a bridge. Answer Explanation: The answer 'bridge' refers to a structure that allows people to cross over obstacles such as water, roads, or in this case, approach a building. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'bridge' because it fits the context of people approaching the building and having to cross over a structure, as described in the excerpt. |
| Q35 | box | the initial impression he wanted to create from the shape of the building as a whole was that of a box. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the designer wanted the building to look like a box when you see it for the first time. Answer Explanation: The answer 'box' means the building is shaped like a box. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer 'box' is right because the excerpt says the designer wanted the building to look like a box when you first see it. This means the shape of the building is like a box. |
| Q36 | screen | And this flat wall also has another purpose. At night-time, projectors are switched on and it functions as a huge screen, onto which images are projected. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about a specific function of a flat wall in the building. It mentions that projectors are used at night to display images on this flat wall, making it like a large screen. Answer Explanation: The answer 'screen' refers to a surface where images or videos can be projected and displayed for viewing. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'screen' because the excerpt clearly describes the building's flat wall being utilized as a screen where images are projected at night, showcasing its versatility and functionality beyond just being a regular wall. |
| Q37 | rubber | The floor’s supported by ten massive pads. These are constructed from rubber | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the floor of the concert hall is held up by ten big pads. These pads are made from a material called rubber. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'rubber', which is a stretchy and strong material often used in many products. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'rubber' because the transcript specifically mentions that the massive pads supporting the floor are constructed from rubber. |
| Q38 | curved | they are not straight, they are curved. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript means that the walls are not straight but instead have a rounded or curved shape. Answer Explanation: The answer 'curved' means not straight or having a bend, like a curve. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'curved' because it accurately describes the shape of the walls in the building as mentioned in the excerpt, which states that the walls are not straight but rather curved. |
| Q39 | curtains | the walls also have curtains which can be opened or closed to change the acoustics. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that there are curtains on the walls that can be opened or closed to change the acoustics in the auditorium. Answer Explanation: The answer indicates that the correct word to fill in the blank is 'curtains,' which are fabric pieces that can be used to cover windows or in this case, decorate the walls. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'curtains' because the word describes a feature in the auditorium that allows adjustment of acoustics by opening or closing them. This aligns with the function of curtains, which can help control sound reflection and absorption in a space like an auditorium. |
| Q40 | international | However, the evaluation of some critics has been less enthusiastic. In spite of Harrison’s efforts to use local materials, they criticise the style of the design as being international rather than local | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The excerpt is talking about some people who are not very excited about the design of the building. Even though the designer tried to use materials from the local area, these people say that the style of design looks more like it belongs to the whole world, rather than just that specific local area. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the critics believe the style of the building is too common and not unique to the local area. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer matches the criticism from the excerpt, where critics are pointing out that the design looks international, not specific to the local context. The word 'international' suggests a design that could be found in many different places globally and is not distinctive to a particular region. |
Transcript
We’ve been discussing the factors the architect has to consider when designing domestic buildings. I’m going to move on now to consider the design of public buildings, and I’ll illustrate this by referring to the new Taylor Concert Hall that’s recently been completed here in the city.
So, as with a domestic building, when designing a public building, an architect needs to consider the function of the building – for example, is it to be used primarily for entertainment, or for education, or for administration? The second thing the architect needs to think about is the context of the building, this includes its physical location obviously, but it also includes the social meaning of the building how it relates to the people it’s built for. And finally, for important public buildings, the architect may also be looking for a central symbolic idea on which to base the design, a sort of metaphor for the building and the way in which it is used.
Let’s look at the new Taylor Concert Hall in relation to these ideas. The location chosen was a site in a run-down district that has been ignored in previous redevelopment plans. It was occupied by a factory that had been empty for some years. The whole area was some distance from the high-rise office blocks of the central business district and shopping centre, but it was only one kilometre from the ring road. The side itself was bordered to the north by a canal which had once been used by boats bringing in raw materials when the area was used for manufacturing.
The architect chosen for the project was Tom Harrison. He found the main design challenge was the location of the site in an area that had no neighbouring buildings of any importance. To reflect the fact that the significance of the building in this quite run-down location was as yet unknown, he decided to create a building centred around the idea of a mystery – something whose meaning still has to be discovered.
So how was this reflected in the design of the building? Well, Harrison decided to create pedestrian access to the building and to make use of the presence of water on the site. As people approach the entrance, they therefore have to cross over a bridge. He wanted to give people a feeling of suspense as they see the building first from a distance, and then close-up, and the initial impression he wanted to create from the shape of the building as a whole was that of a box. The first side that people see, the southern wall, is just a high, flat wall uninterrupted by any windows. This might sound off-putting, but it supports Harrison’s concept of the building – that the person approaching is intrigued and wonders what will be inside. And this flat wall also has another purpose. At night-time, projectors are switched on and it functions as a huge screen, onto which images are projected.
The auditorium itself seats 1500 people. The floor’s supported by ten massive pads. These are constructed from rubber, and so are able to absorb any vibrations from outside and prevent them from affecting the auditorium. The walls are made of several layers of hony-coloured wood, all sourced from local beech trees. In order to improve the acoustic properties of the auditorium and to amplify the sound, they are not straight, they are curved. The acoustics are also adjustable according to the size of orchestra and the type of music being played. In order to achieve this, there are nine movable panels in the ceiling above the orchestra which are all individually motorized, and the walls also have curtains which can be opened or closed to change the acoustics.
The reaction of the public to the new building has generally been positive. However, the evaluation of some critics has been less enthusiastic. In spite of Harrison’s efforts to use local materials, they criticise the style of the design as being international rather than local, and say it doesn’t reflect features of the landscape or society for which it is built.