Guangzhou Opera House, Opera house in Guangzhou, China
The Guangzhou Opera House, designed by Zaha Hadid, consists of two angular volumes clad in grey granite and glass, known as the "double pebble." The larger volume, rising 43.4 metres, houses a 1,800-seat auditorium; the smaller, 22.7 metres high, contains a 400-seat multipurpose theatre and a restaurant. The faceted roofs and walls are punctuated by triangular and quadrilateral glass panels.
The building resulted from an international design competition launched in 2002 and became Zaha Hadid's first major cultural project in China. Its completion marked a turning point in the city's cultural infrastructure development.
The venue hosts Chinese and international opera productions, ballet performances, and concerts throughout the year that draw audiences from across the region. Visitors can experience both classical and contemporary performances that reflect the city's cultural interests.
The building offers multiple entry points and is easily accessible from major transit routes in the area. Restaurants and cafés inside provide convenient dining options before or after performances.
The design is called "double pebble": two rock-like volumes, a 1,800-seat main hall and a 400-seat multifunctional theatre, meant to look like stones washed by the Pearl River. Zaha Hadid first visited the finished building in February 2011, months after it opened.
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