Projects
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Harbin, China

Culture

2010-2015

Embedded within Harbin’s wetlands, Harbin Opera House is an abstraction of its natural surroundings. Inspired by the powerful aura of the Songhua River, it responds to the force and spirit of the northern Chinese city’s untamed wilderness, frigid climate, and rich musical history.

The building references the sinuous landscape that surrounds it, as if it has been sculpted by wind and water. Emphasizing public interaction and participation, the opera house welcomes both ticketholders and the public to explore pathways carved into its facade and ascend the building as if traversing the local topography. The grand theater emulates a wooden block that has been delicately eroded away. The presence of nature is carried out inside through a subtle skylight that visually connects the audience to the exterior, and the passing of time.

Team

Principal Partners

Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano

Design Team

Jordan Kanter, Daniel Gillen, Bas van Wylick, Liu Huiying, Fu Changrui, Zhao Wei, Kin Li ,Zheng Fang, Julian Sattler, Jackob Beer, J Travis Russett, Sohith Perera, Colby Thomas Suter, Yu Kui, Philippe Brysse, Huang Wei, Flora Lee, Wang Wei, Xie Yibang, Lyo Hengliu, Alexander Cornelius, Alex Gornelius, Mao Beihong, Gianantonio Bongiorno, Jei Kim, Chen Yuanyu, Yu Haochen, Qin Lichao, Pil-Sun Ham, Mingyu Seol, Lin Guomin, Zhang Haixia, Li Guangchong, Wilson Wu, Ma Ning, Davide Signorato, Nick Tran, Xiang Ling, Gustavo Alfred Van Staveren, Yang Jie

Architect

MAD

Client

Harbin Songbei Investment and Development Group Co., Ltd.

Associate Engineers

Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD) Institute No.3

Façade/cladding Consultants

Inhabit Group, China Jingye Engineering Co., Ltd.

BIM

Gehry Technologies Co., Ltd.

Landscape Architect

Beijing Turenscape Institute

Interior Design

MAD, Shenzhen Keyuan Construction Group Co., Ltd.

Interior Decoration Consultant

Harbin Weimeiyuan Decoration Design Co., Ltd.

Acoustics Consultants

Acoustic and Theater Special Design & Research Studio of East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI)

Lighting Design

China International Engineering Design & Consult Co., Ltd.

Stage Lighting and Acoustics Design

Acoustic and Theater Special Design & Research Studio of East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI)

Stage Mechanical Engineers

Beijing New Era Architectural Design Ltd.

Signage Design

Shenzhen Freesigns Signage Co., Ltd.

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