Henning Larsen has announced a new cultural project in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Danish firm's plans for the new Jeddah Opera House entail a 1,500-seat opera, 750-seat theater, and 150-seat Rehearsal Hall to be constructed at a site that forms the new Opera Quarter and is included as part of the larger Jeddah Central master plan.

In concept, the scheme presents a cluster of buildings along a central spine adhering to the Red Sea shoreline. Glowing geometric volumes display an irregular rhythm created in their facade’s coral stone and wood exteriors and enlivened by Mashrabiyas and Roshans, all of which are vernacular elements and responsive to the Al-Balad area's architectural history and character. The listed square footage of the project is 344,400 (or 32,000 square meters).

Louis Becker, the Global Design Principal for Henning Larsen, describes the work: "The tradition of theater grew out of public space and everyday life — the casual choreography of meetings on the street, the song of shopkeepers competing for attention, the kaleidoscope of colors, scents, and textures. Through a careful balance of tradition and innovation, the opera serves as a bridge between old and new, symbolizing the evolution of art in Jeddah."

The project has already begun construction towards a September 2027 completion date. 

Also in the cultural sector, Henning Larsen has just won a competition to deliver another concert hall and urban regeneration project in Bergen, Norway. The firm has likewise begun a similar project in Canberra, Australia. 

Elsewhere in Saudi Arabia, fellow Scandinavian firm Snøhetta is also working on their own opera house design on the outskirts of Riyadh for the year 2028.