SPF architects: aria di zhuhai, china

the zhuhai opera house by SPF architects image courtesy SPF architects

the zhuhai opera house by SPF architects is located in the city of zhuhai in guangdong province, china. the project design brief required the ability to seat 1500 people, provide a large plaza gathering space, rehearsal hall, restaurants and other public amentities.

the primary element of the design, a critical geographic and cultural element of zhuhai city, is a stone – specifically the ‘dieshi’ which means ‘stacking rock’. the concept develops the opera house as 3 stacked dieshi: part of a master plan based on the principle of ‘balance’ from five element theory, a traditional chinese philosophy. a red, sandstone plaza invites cultural interaction, and a forest is planted behind the site – the embodiment of growth and sustainability. the shape of the center stone comfortably houses the opera house auditorium, its curvature lending perfectly to the intimacy of the space.

the zhuhai opera house image courtesy SPF architects

the zhuhai opera house image courtesy SPF architects

the zhuhai opera house – interior image courtesy SPF architects

the zhuhai opera house image courtesy SPF architects

the zhuhai opera house image courtesy SPF architects the zhuhai opera house – sections image courtesy SPF architects