Photography by Iwan Baan, Virgile Simon Bertrand, Virgile Simon Bertrand, Iwan Baan, Hufton and Crow, Christian Richters

Like pebbles in a stream smoothed by
erosion, the Guangzhou Opera House
sits in perfect harmony with its riverside
location. The Opera House is at the heart
of Guangzhou’s cultural development.
Its unique twin-boulder design enhances
the city by opening it to the Pearl River,
unifying the adjacent cultural buildings
with the towers of international finance in
Guangzhou’s Zhujiang new town.
The 1,800-seat auditorium of the
Opera House houses the very latest
acoustic technology, and the smaller
400-seat multifunction hall is designed for
performance art, opera and concerts in the
round.

The design evolved from the concepts of
a natural landscape and the fascinating
interplay between architecture and nature;
engaging with the principles of erosion,
geology and topography. The Guangzhou
Opera House design has been particularly
influenced by river valleys – and the way
in which they are transformed by erosion.

Fold lines in this landscape define territories
and zones within the Opera House, cutting
dramatic interior and exterior canyons
for circulation, lobbies and cafes, and
allowing natural light to penetrate deep
into the building. Smooth transitions
between disparate elements and different
levels continue this landscape analogy.
Custom moulded glass-fibre reinforced
gypsum (GFRC) units have been used for
the interior of the auditorium to continue
the architectural language of fluidity and
seamlessness.

The Guangzhou Opera House has been the
catalyst for the development of cultural
facilities in the city including new museums,
library and archive. The Opera House design
is the latest realization of Zaha Hadid
Architects’ unique exploration of contextual
urban relationships, combining the cultural
traditions that have shaped Guangzhou’s
history, with the ambition and optimism
that will create its future.

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Guangzhou Opera House

Guangzhou, China

Other Projects by Zaha Hadid Architects

Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Art Centre

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BEEAH Headquarters

Striatus 3D Printed Bridge

Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Art Centre

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Guangzhou Opera House

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Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team