Shanghai’s Grand Opera House Mirrors an Expanding Fan
Scattered throughout Snøhetta’s esteemed collection are numerous performing arts venues located globally. Over the past two decades, the Oslo-based architecture and design studio has imagined celebrated projects including the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, the Busan Opera House in South Korea, and the Isabel Bader Center for the Performing Arts in Canada. Presently, that expertise has manifested in the firm’s newest project: the Shanghai Grand Opera House.
Situated alongside the Huangpo River in Shanghai’s Expo Houtan district, the Grand Opera House is approaching its final stages, as part of China’s 13th Five-Year Plan. Snøhetta’s latest images depict the building’s striking character, highlighted by its glazed exteriors, radial form, and helical roof. According to the firm, this inclined roof is crafted to evoke the shape of a fan, a nod to those featured in the nation’s traditional dances. From the summit of the roof, views of Shanghai and the Huangpo River are captured, providing patrons an extravagant perspective of the skyline below while creating a linear link between the edifice’s foundation and the heavens. In many respects, this upward trajectory parallels art itself, possessing the ability to elevate feelings, emotions, and experiences through its imaginative force.
One of the Opera House’s most striking attributes is its spiral staircase. Mirroring the roof, the staircase is equally fluid, radiating in and out from the building’s base with graceful movements. The staircase gracefully flows through the air, akin to a body in motion during a dance, underscoring Snøhetta’s dedication to incorporating motion throughout the design.Overall, the Opera House preserves an extraordinary silhouette and is far from being a static architectural entity.
At the core of the structure lie its three auditoriums, each tailored for distinct functions. The 2,000-seat main auditorium, for example, features exceptional acoustics, whereas the 1,200-seat secondary stage provides a more intimate atmosphere for smaller performances. The third stage, while accommodating 1,000 guests, boasts adaptable stage and seating configurations that invite more avant-garde productions to “draw in a new generation of opera enthusiasts,” according to Snøhetta. These interior environments are adorned with luxurious silk, oak flooring, and extensive glass panes, contrasting sharply with the Opera’s bold exterior.
“The Shanghai Grand Opera House is a natural evolution of our earlier endeavors in performing arts center design,” remarked Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, founder of Snøhetta, in regard to the project. “[It’s] a manifestation of our contextual insight and principles, crafted to foster communal ownership of the venue for the citizens of Shanghai and beyond.”
The Opera House remains in the building phase, but to keep abreast of its development, visit Snøhetta’s website and follow the firm on Instagram.
Engineered by the Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta, the Shanghai Grand Opera House features dynamic shapes through its striking roof and spiral staircase. Both the roof and staircase are conceived to reflect an opening fan, akin to those used in traditional dance performances. Construction for the Grand Opera House in Shanghai is ongoing, but once finalized, it will feature three auditoriums and stunning views of the nearby cityscape.
Snøhetta: Website | Instagram
My Modern Met has granted permission to showcase photos by Snøhetta.
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