THE glare off the Walt Disney Concert Hall's shimmering stainless steel curves is so intense it heats up nearby apartments by at least 8°C, neighbours say.

Before concert hall officials ordered a temporary fix recently, reflections from Frank Gehry's $274m architectural landmark, which opened in October, hit Jaqueline Lagrone as she arrived home for lunch at her unit that faces the hall.

"You couldn't even see. Then the furniture would get really hot," she says.

After closing the curtains she could still feel the warmth, and air conditioning was needed all the time.

The reflection off one corner can drive temperatures up as much as 8°C. That corner is clad in mirror-like steel that reflects the sun more harshly than the brushed steel used elsewhere.

Disney Hall officials have put up a temporary synthetic net while they work on a permanent solution dulling the shine. "We've chosen a sort of sandblasted finish," says Gehry partner Terry Bell.

Architects considered the effect of the shiny steel on the neighbours, but during construction the curving sheets of metal ended up facing a slightly different angle from what plans called for. Sapa-AP Mar 03 2004 07:46:13:000AM Business Day 1st Edition