Guangzhou Opera House, Architect, Chinese Zaha Hadid Building, Theatre Design Pictures

Guangzhou Opera House

Arts Architecture Development in China design by Zaha Hadid Architects

28 Feb 2011

Guangzhou Opera House Building

Dates built: 2003-11

Design: Zaha Hadid Architects

Guangzhou Opera House photos : Virgile Simon Bertrand

Guangzhou Opera House

Like pebbles in a stream smoothed by erosion, the Guangzhou Opera House sits in perfect harmony with its riverside location.

The Opera House is at the heart of Guangzhou’s cultural development. Its unique twin-boulder design enhances the city by opening it to the Pearl River, unifying the adjacent cultural buildings with the towers of international finance in Guangzhou’s Zhujiang new town.

The 1,800-seat auditorium of the Guangzhou Opera House houses the very latest acoustic technology, and the smaller 400-seat multifunction hall is designed for performance art, opera and concerts in the round.

The design evolved from the concepts of a natural landscape and the fascinating interplay between architecture and nature; engaging with the principles of erosion, geology and topography. The Guangzhou Opera House design has been particularly influenced by river valleys – and the way in which they are transformed by erosion.

Fold lines in this landscape define territories and zones within this Chinese building by Zaha Hadid Architect, cutting dramatic interior and exterior canyons for circulation, lobbies and cafes, and allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the building.

Smooth transitions between disparate elements and different levels continue this landscape analogy. Custom moulded glass-fibre reinforced gypsum (GFRC) units have been used for the interior of the auditorium to continue the architectural language of fluidity and seamlessness.

building photos : Virgile Simon Bertrand

The building has been the catalyst for the development of cultural facilities in the city including new museums, library and archive. The Opera House design is the latest realization of Zaha Hadid Architects’ unique exploration of contextual urban relationships, combining the cultural traditions that have shaped Guangzhou’s history, with the ambition and optimism that will create its future.

photos : Virgile Simon Bertrand

Guangzhou Opera House – Building Information

Program: 1,800 seats Grand theatre, entrance lobby & lounge
Multifunction hall, other auxiliary facilities & support premises
Client: Guangzhou Municipal Government
Architect: Design Zaha Hadid
Area : 73,019 m2
Site Area: 42,000 m2
Cost: 1.38 Billion RMB
Opera House: 1,804 seats
Multipurpose Hall: 443 seats

photo : Virgile Simon Bertrand

Conceptual Interpretation

Overlooking the Pearl River this major Chinese concert hall building is at the heart of Guangzhou’s cultural sites development. Adopting state-of-the-art technology in its design and construction it will be a lasting monument to the New Millennium, confirming Guangzhou as one of Asia’s cultural centres. The unique twin boulder design of the opera house will enhance urban function by opening access to the riverside and dock areas and creating a new dialogue with the emerging new town.

Zaha Hadid Architects, London, UK

Guangzhou Opera House Building : Further Information

Opera House photograph © Virgile Simon Bertrand