CSRAarchitects: busan opera house

‘busan opera house’ by CSRAarchitects in busan, south korea all images courtesy CSRAarchitects

CSRAarchitects (davide roth, lia silva) has sent us their entry into the open international competition for the design of ‘busan opera house‘, a new cultural facility due to start construction in early 2014 in busan, south korea. focusing on the integral give-and-exchange relationship of architecture and performance, the design explores new concepts of spatial organization that maximizes on the theatre experience.

exterior view

read as an artificial landscape of multiple planes, the building employs a variety of angles and forms to create a distinct architectural identity on the island. a network of stacked surfaces generate an open-air theatre by the water as well as two monumental stairs that lead up to the first floor foyer. conceived as a flexible and transformative space, the main foyer functions as a secondary performing stage that blurs the boundary between artist and observer.

view of open air theatre

further exploring the notion of taking the stage out of a framed context, the opera hall and multifunctional theatre features an ‘action ring’ which is a physical extension of the stage that circumscribes the room. visitors are encouraged to experience the theatre in a more integrated fashion.

interior view of main foyer

diagram of action ring (left) opera house (right) theatre

diagram of flexibility three possible configurations of the theatre

diagram of the foyer’s performance (left) enclosed space (right)  open space

site map

floor plan / level 0 / entrance

floor plan / level +4 / hall

floor plan / terrace level / exhibition centre

section a-a

section b-b