Concept
Located on the People’s plaza, the historic center of the city of Shanghai, where it adjoins the city and faces the Museum of Fine Arts, it is today a strong signal and a major cultural venue in the city. With a 1800-seat room, it is an opera in the Western sense of the term, which can collect the classical repertoire.
The exterior architecture of the opera house is a contemporary interpretation of some of the key elements of Chinese culture. The design is based on a square shape, representing the earth in the Chinese culture, while the curved shape of the roof is a part circle, representing the heavens.
Program
The exterior architecture of the Opera contains strong elements of Chinese culture interpreted in a contemporary language. The plan is based on the geometry of square, which represents the earth in Chinese symbolism , while the curved roof of the building is an arc representing the sky. The scale of the building imposed innovative solutions and the use of more sophisticated and
advanced techniques , as to make the glass facades suspended. The 7000-ton-steel structure, ship hull made by shipyards in Shanghai and assembled on the ground , were hoisted to 40m height with jacks.
Team
Project owner
– Municipalité de Shanghai
Project management
– Prime architect: Arte Charpentier Architectes
Project specifics
– Acoustics: Jean Paul Lamoureux
– Lighting: Philippe Almon
– Technical Design: Marc Aubry, Roberto Almeida
Project specifics
– Environmental certifications:
– Project address: place du peuple, Puxi
– City: Shanghai
– Delevery: 1998
– Project program: conception and realization
– Project surface area: 55,000 sqm
– Perspectives: A.zuga SARL
Photos : Didier Boy de la Tour