Majestic doesn't cover it—to judge by these photos by Adam Mørk and Hufton+Crow, MAD's new 850,000 square foot Harbin Opera House located on the titular Chinese city's Cultural Island is approaching a masterpiece.
With two theaters (The Grand Theater seats 1,600, the Small Theater 400) and a sprawling, unhurried attitude towards space, the design is very reflective of its physical surroundings.
According to MAD Architects founding principal Ma Yansong, “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."
39 Comments
This looks amazing.
Blobitecture.
<yawn>
Patrik must be pissing in his pants.
Miles, you're being as ideological as Schumaker. This building is not <yawn>.
synergistically blending with the surrounding nature? <barf>
are skaters allowed?
So much jealousy and architectural Scrooge-ing on these Archinect comments sections...
I do think that jealousy is a factor. Its tall poppy syndrome.
right, @davvid
oooh, another big swoopy form. oooh, they used a computer to calculate some curves. oooh
stop miles, you're hurting their feelings
Do you really think they give a shit what Miles Jaffe thinks? Get real, folks.
not "they" poppy, You!
blah blah blah
Looks beautiful. Though very similar to Zaha's opera house in China a few years back? Would love to see details on that staircase, wow. (Of course the influence is obvious). Needs a closer critical look, can't trust the photos anymore...though that probably will never happen.
Mendelsohn's back! You can't make a street of them but they sure look cool.
Beautiful, but why...
Why Architecture? or Why beauty?
It would have been much better if BIG had designed it. Too bad.
ARP1 is the best.
Beauty is a bribe... Architecture is a gift.
Seriously - ~30 comments and over half are just blatantly pumping BIG's tires? Whats your angle?
I count only one comment mentioning BIG
^ ARP1s comments, not this thread.
It is not funny anymore.
^ ^ No davvid - check his 'history' button, its actually up to about 3/4 that are just gushing over it
Fancy. and to experience this wonder all you have to do is sit through an opera.
Bench, he's probably trolling the BIG-haters.
this building is amazing. the moat setting helps to heighten the transition from everyday to magical. the outside is like a windy snow day, as harbin is for much of the year. the interior of red seating and wood paneling is warm and inviting compared to the cold climate.
what's nice about this building is that it clearly is of it's time, but it's not making claims like schumacher does. they are using contemporary technology and materials to develop a concept that comes from the local landscape and culture.
the one thing that cracks me up is that in plan it looks terribly phallic.
Not "Why architecture" - the big question is, "Why this FUCKING EXCESS"
sameolddoctor, Have you ever been to an opera house?? They are always excessive. Nothing new.
yes its trendy blobitecture, but a well done blob at least...that wood work is pretty cool.
davvid, you may not be familiar with the miserable pit serving Chicago's Opera Theater company (despite the skeptical commentary in another post, some cities have enough demand to support multiple opera companies - this one is Chicago's more experimental and cheap option).
I guess this is what the critics would prefer, since they don't like opera anyway:
The Harbin Opera looks fascinating. If the acoustics are good, MAD has done something uncommon + great.
mid, that was my fourth thought - after relating the interior to a digestive tract, seeing exterior panels that already appear to be peeling like tiles on the space shuttle, and the lack of concern for sustainability.
What are the acoustics like with all those caves and curves?
Don't look at me . I just saw Alban Berg's Lulu.
Ok, you're off the hook then. You get extra credit for atonal. Here you go:
++++++ Vado
Those renaissance opera houses have NOTHING in common with this one - Harbin does not have a significant opera company or program. This building has all to do with vanity for the sake of it. Your turn.
I wonder how much money is being laundered in china
"They are using contemporary technology and materials to develop a concept that comes from the local landscape and culture."
What part of this do you think comes from local landscape and culture?
perhaps
I see the landscape metaphor and the soaring operatic forms and spaces, the cultural reference..... not really.
what should a cultural reference look like?
.
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