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Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects
The Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects has opened in Guangdong province, China.
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-26.jpg)
Top photograph is by Christian Richters
Shaped to resemble two pebbles on the bank of the Pearl River, the building houses a 1,800-seat theatre plus 400-seat multifunctional hall, rehearsal rooms and entrance hall.
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-1.jpg)
The main auditorium is lined with moulded panels made from glass-fibre reinforced gypsum to create a folded, flowing surface.
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The inaugural performance takes place today.
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Photographs are by Iwan Baan unless stated otherwise.
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Above photograph is by Christian Richters
The information below is from Zaha Hadid Architects:
Like pebbles in a stream smoothed by erosion, the Guangzhou Opera House sits in perfect harmony with its riverside location.
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-89.jpg)
Above photograph is by Christian Richters
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.
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-10.jpg)
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.
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-12.jpg)
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.
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-13.jpg)
The Guangzhou Opera House design has been particularly influenced by river valleys – and the way in which they are transformed by erosion.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-14.jpg)
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.
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-15.jpg)
Smooth transitions between disparate elements and different levels continue this landscape analogy.
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-5.jpg)
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.
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-6.jpg)
The Guangzhou Opera House has been the catalyst for the development of cultural facilities in the city including new museums, library and archive.
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-7.jpg)
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.
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-8.jpg)
Program: 1,800 seat grand theatre, entrance lobby & lounge
400-seat multifunction hall, rehearsal rooms and other auxiliary facilities
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-9.jpg)
Client: Guangzhou Municipal Government
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Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Design: Zaha Hadid
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Project director: Woody K.T. Yao, Patrik Schumacher
Project leader: Simon Yu
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-19.jpg)
Project team: Jason Guo, Yang Jingwen, Long Jiang, Ta-Kang Hsu, Yi- Ching Liu, Zhi Wang, Christine Chow, Cyril Shing, Filippo Innocenti, Lourdes Sanchez, Hinki Kwong, Junkai Jiang
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-20.jpg)
Competition team:
1st Stage: Filippo Innocenti, Matias Musacchio, Jenny Huang, Hon Kong Chee, Markus Planteu,Paola Cattarin, Tamar Jacobs, Yael Brosilovski, Viggo Haremst, Christian Ludwig, Christina Beaumont, Lorenzo Grifantini, Flavio La Gioia, Nina Safainia, Fernando Vera, Martin Henn, Achim Gergen, Graham Modlen, Imran Mahmood
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-23.jpg)
2nd Stage: Cyril Shing, YanSong Ma, Yosuke Hayano, Adriano De Gioannis, Barbara Pfenningstorff
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-30.jpg)
Local design institute: Guangzhou Pearl River Foreign Investment Architectural Designing Institute (Guangzhou, China)
Structural engineers: SHTK (Shanghai, China); Guangzhou Pearl River Foreign Investment Architectural Designing Institute
Facade engineering: KGE Engineering (Zhuhai, China)
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-31.jpg)
Building services: Guangzhou Pearl River Foreign Investment Architectural Designing Institute (Guangzhou, China)
Acoustic consultants: Marshall Day Acoustics (Melbourne, Australia)
Theatre consultant: ENFI (Beijing, China)
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-28.jpg)
Lighting design consultant: Beijing Light & View (Beijing, China)
Project management: Guangzhou Municipal Construction Group Co. Ltd. (Guangzhou, China)
Construction management: Guangzhou Construction Engineering Supervision Co. Ltd. (Guangzhou, China)
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-27.jpg)
Cost consultant: Guangzhou Jiancheng Engineering Costing Consultant Office Ltd. (Guangzhou, China)
Principal contractor: China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Co. Ltd. (Guangdong, China)
![Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/02/dzn_Guangzhou-Opera-House-by-Zaha-Hadid-Architects-29.jpg)
Project: 70,000 m2
Site: 42,393m2
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