Opera houses have been a prestigious institution of art and culture for centuries. Often when you think of opera houses, you think of historical and architectural wonders worth visiting. When you step inside, these buildings transport you to the past, a time of grandeur and abundance. But there is another way. Meet these 7 beautiful modern opera houses that will take you to the future.
Sydney Opera House, Australia
The first and most famous building on this list is Australia’s “Sydney Opera House”. The building that dramatically changed Australia’s skyline was designed in 1957 by Danish Architect Jørn Utzon. The Sydney Opera House was only opened in 1973 because the design was so advanced and the necessary building techniques were still being developed. Utzon was inspired by the movement of seagulls’ wings, which can still be seen in the glass walls.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/30/the-broken-promise-of-the-sydney-opera-house-its-botched-design-and-150m-fix
Walt Disney Concert Hall, California
American architect Frank Gehry designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, which opened in 2003, in the deconstructivist architectural style. The exterior of this building consists of curved stainless steel that reminds you of thesails of a ship. This concert hall was designed from the inside out to create the best harmony between acoustic and architectural design. The interior consists of walls and curved ceilings made from Douglas fir wood to achieve the warmest possible acoustic sound.
Source: https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/case-studies/a4415-harbin-opera-house-by-mad-architects-design-inspired-by-the-surroundings/
Harbin Opera House, China
The Harbin Opera House opened in 2015 and was designed by the Chinese architectural firm MAD led by Ma Yansong. The design of this building is in stark contrast to the modern Chinese cities where the buildings are towering and imposing. With this design, Yangson has emphasised the integration of this opera house with the nature and used it as an extension of the natural landscape. Not only the exterior but also the interior is based on the environment. Inside, organic shapes, different materials and textures are used to blend in with nature.
The Copenhagen Opera House
In 2005, the Copenhagen Opera House was opened after a 3-year construction period. This modern building was designed by Danish Architect Henning Larsen and gives the audience a fantastic view of the Copenhagen skyline The opera house consists of two architectural elements under one large roof: a light foyer for the visitors and a heavier rear building for the performers. The exterior is made of limestone and the interior uses luxurious materials, but the most impressive is the ceiling in the auditorium, which is covered with 105 000 sheets of gold leaf.
Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Valencia
The Valencia Opera House was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava as the final element in the City of Arts and Sciences. Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía opened its doors in 2005. The exterior of the building is shaped like a series of seemingly random volumes, which become one through their enclosure in two symmetrical, cut-out concrete shells. The interior of the largest auditorium is clad in ceramics, which meant that it took another year for the acoustics of this room to be perfect.
Oslo Opera House
The next opera house on this list is that of Oslo. The angular building, clad in white marble and seeming to emerge from the Norwegian waters like an iceberg, was designed by architectural firm Snøhetta and opened in 2008. The intention behind this iconic design is to make the roof accessible to everyone, creating a new public space in the centre of Oslo.
Guangzhou Opera House, China
Last but not least on this list is the theatre of Guangzhou. This opera house opened in2010 and was designed by Zaha Hadid in the deconstructivist architectural style. Hadid took her design inspiration from the principles of topography and geology with the aim of creating a relationship between architecture and landscape. The exterior of this building is designed like two stones washed up on the riverbank. The interior of this structure is inspired by a valley formed by erosion.
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