Taichung Metropolitan Opera House, Modern opera house in Xitun District, Taiwan
The Taichung Metropolitan Opera House is a theatre in Xitun District, Taiwan, holding three performance halls: a grand auditorium seating 2009 people, a drama theatre with 800 seats, and a smaller space for experimental productions. The architecture consists of interlocking curved surfaces that form walls, ceilings, and floors, creating a network of vaulted passageways and galleries.
The design won an international competition in 2005 and construction began four years later. The opening took place on September 30, 2016, after several delays caused by structural challenges.
The building is known locally as the Sound Cave because of its acoustical caverns and undulating walls. Visitors walking through the lobby encounter a flowing architectural space where performance and social gathering merge.
The complex has several entrances and wide lobbies lit by natural light. Visitors can explore public areas even when no performance is scheduled.
The continuously curved concrete surfaces were achieved using a special formwork technique new to Taiwan at the time. No corner inside forms a sharp edge, allowing sound to flow smoothly through the spaces.
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