‘i-opera’ by nabito architects in busan, south korea all images courtesy nabito architects

barcelona-based practice nabito architects (alessandra faticanti, roberto ferlito) has sent us images of ‘i-opera’, their design entry into the open international competition for busan opera house in busan north port, south korea. aiming to serve as a landmark not only on the international level but the local level, the design is approached as a multi-storey public space with a number of functions including a pool, shopping area, exhibition space, restaurant, and a children’s playing zone.

nabito architects: i opera view of outdoor public platform and pool

focusing on providing transparency and communication on a visual, structural, and programmatic level, the proposal is conceived as a box from which three entities are hung: the opera house and its facilities, the exhibition space, and a multifunctional block. an outdoor platform acts as an open public plaza that blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior, providing access to the rest of the complex through three emphatic escalators. the entire building is wrapped in a translucent skin that maintains a direct dialogue between the architecture and its surroundings as well as the facility itself.

nabito architects: i opera view of pool

passing through the concave exhibition space, a circular ramp connects the lobby to a public outdoor podium on the roof level. the top of the structure secures a 360 degree panoramic view of the city and the ocean, and provides an outdoor venue for a variety of events.

in order to reduce CO2 emissions and to function in a sustainable fashion, the immediate site will be planted with bamboo which absorbs 35% more CO2 than other plants. solar energy will be harvested throughout the day and used to illuminate an LED media wall on the facade.

nabito architects: i opera transparent facade

nabito architects: i opera media wall at night

nabito architects: i opera general night view

nabito architects: i opera rendered fly-by view

nabito architects: i opera schematic diagram – process

nabito architects: i opera conceptual diagram

nabito architects: i opera programmatic diagram

nabito architects: i opera configurations of multi-functional theatre

nabito architects: i opera site plan

nabito architects: i opera floor plan / level +1

nabito architects: i opera floor plan / level 0

nabito architects: i opera floor plan / level +2

nabito architects: i opera floor plan / level +3

nabito architects: i opera floor plan / level +4

nabito architects: i opera floor plan / level +5

nabito architects: i opera floor plan / roof level

nabito architects: i opera longitudinal section

nabito architects: i opera elevation

project info:

client: busan metropolitan city, south korea site: 60,000 m2 collaborators: agita putnina, furio sordini, alessandro costantini, lina gronskyte, dana mazaarani, daniel ghutler, liva vilcina