ArchShowcase 
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Harbin Opera House in China by MAD ArchitectsJanuary 11th, 2016 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: MAD Architects MAD Architects unveils the completed Harbin Opera House, located in the Northern Chinese city of Harbin. In 2010, MAD won the international open competition for Harbin Cultural Island, a master plan for an opera house, a cultural center, and the surrounding wetland landscape along Harbin’s Songhua River.The sinuousopera house is the focal point of the Cultural Island, occupying a building area of approximately 850,000square feet of thesite’s 444 acres total area. It features a grand theater that can host over 1,600 patrons and a smaller theater to accommodate an intimate audience of 400.  Harbin Opera House, aerial view from the east, Image Courtesy © Hufton+Crow
 Sunset view of the opera house from the pond with the small theatre in the foreground, Image Courtesy © Adam Mørk
 Night view of the main entrance to the grand lobby featuring the crystalline skylight, Image Courtesy © Adam Mørk Embedded within Harbin’s wetlands, the Harbin Opera House was designed in response to the force and spirit of the northern city’suntamed wilderness and frigid climate. Appearing as if sculpted by wind and water, the building seamlessly blends in with nature and the topography—atransfusion of local identity, art, and culture. “We envision Harbin Opera House as a cultural center of the future – a tremendous performance venue, as well as a dramatic public space that embodies the integration of human, art and the city identity, while synergistically blending with the surrounding nature,” said Ma Yansong, founding principal, MAD Architects.  Partial view of the façades’ aluminum panels and pathways, Image Courtesy © Hufton+Crow  The façade in contrast to the Harbin skyline, Image Courtesy © Hufton+Crow On the exterior, the architecture references the sinuous landscape of the surrounding area. The resulting curvilinear façade composed of smooth white aluminum panels becomes the poetry of edge and surface, softness and sharpness. The journey begins upon crossing the bridge onto Harbin Cultural Island, where the undulating architectural mass wraps a large public plaza, and during winter months, melts into the snowy winter environment.  Night view of the grand lobby and grand theater, Image Courtesy © Adam Mørk  Night view looking into the lobby of the small theater, Image Courtesy © Adam Mørk The architectural procession choreographs a conceptual narrative, one that transforms visitors into performers. Upon entering the grand lobby, visitors will see large transparent glass walls spanning the grand lobby, visually connecting the curvilinear interior with the swooping façade and exterior plaza. Soaring above, a crystalline glass curtain wall soars over the grand lobby space with the support of a lightweight diagrid structure. Comprised of glass pyramids, the surface alternates between smooth and faceted, referencing the billowing snow and ice of the frigid climate. Visitors are greeted with the simple opulence of natural light and material sensation—all before taking their seat.  South side view into the grand lobby, Image Courtesy © Adam Mørk  Rooftop terrace with observation deck that provides panoramic views of Harbin and the Songhua River, Image Courtesy © Adam Mørk Presenting a warm and inviting element, the grand theateris clad in rich wood, emulating a wooden block that has been gently eroded away. Sculpted from Manchurian Ash, the wooden walls gently wrap around the main stage and theater seating. From the proscenium to the mezzanine balcony the grand theater’s use of simple materials and spatial configuration provides world-class acoustics. The grand theater is illuminated in part by a subtle skylight that connects the audience to the exterior and the passing of time.  Rooftop terrace, Image Courtesy © Adam Mørk  The lobby of the grand theater, Image Courtesy © Hufton+Crow Within the second, smaller theater, the interior is connected seamlessly to the exterior by the large, panoramic window behind the performance stage. This wall of sound-proof glass provides a naturally scenic backdrop for performances and activates the stage as an extension of the outdoor environment, inspiring production opportunities.  Detail of the sculpted wood surfaces, Image Courtesy © Hufton+Crow  Detail of the sculpted wood staircase, Image Courtesy © Adam Mørk Harbin Opera House emphasizes public interaction and participation with the building. Both ticketholders and the general public alike can explore the façade’s carved paths and ascend the building as if traversing local topography. At the apex, visitors discover an open, exterior performance space that serves as an observation platform for visitors to survey the panoramic views of Harbin’s metropolitan skyline and the surrounding wetlands below. Upon descent, visitors return to the expansive public plaza, and are invited to explore the grand lobby space.  The sculpted wood staircase leading to the grand theater, Image Courtesy © Hufton+Crow  View from side of the grand theater’s staircase, Image Courtesy © Adam Mørk Surpassing the complex opera house typology, MAD articulates an architectureinspired by nature and saturated in local identity, culture and art. As the Harbin Opera House deepens the emotional connection of the public with the environment, the architecture is consequently theatrical in both its performance of narrative spaces and its context within the landscape.  Stairway entrance to the small theater, Image Courtesy © Adam Mørk  Lobby of the small theater, Image Courtesy © Hufton+Crow  Lobby of the small theater, Image Courtesy © Hufton+Crow  Office Lobby, Image Courtesy © Adam Mørk  View of the grand theater’s main stage and the proscenium, Image Courtesy © Hufton+Crow  Harbin Opera House floor plan, 1st floor, Image Courtesy © MAD Architects  Harbin Opera House floor plan, 2nd floor, Image Courtesy © MAD Architects  Longitudinal Section of the small section, Image Courtesy © MAD Architects  Transversal Section of the grand theater, Image Courtesy © MAD Architects About MAD Architects Founded by Ma Yansong in 2004, MAD Architects is a global architecture firm committed to developing futuristic, organic, technologically advanced designs that embody a contemporary interpretation of the Eastern affinity for nature. With its core design philosophy of Shanshui City – a vision for the city of the future based in the spiritual and emotional needs of residents – MAD endeavors to create a balance between humanity, the city, and the environment. Founding principal Ma Yansong is a central figure in the worldwide dialogue on the future of architecture, and has been named one of the “10 Most Creative People in Architecture” by Fast Company in 2009, and selected as a “Young Global Leader (YGL)” by World Economic Forum (Davos Forum) in 2014. World-renowned for works including Ordos Museum and the Absolute Towers, MAD is expanding its global presence with projects across the globe including Chicago’s Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
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Categories: Cultural Center, Opera House, public spaces, Theater |
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