Shenzhen Opera House

Location: Shenzhen, China
Scope: Cultural
Area: m² (GFA)
Stage: Competition
Architect: Studio Seilern Architects
Local Architect: CNADRI
Structural Engineer: EOC
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: Ramboll
Sustainability Consultant: Ramboll
Theatre Consultant: dUCKS Sceno

Within 35 years, Shenzhen has grown from a town of 30,000 to a mega-city of 11 million. Participation has become a cultural priority for Shenzhen: The City’s Cultural Innovation 2020 Agenda emphasises the importance of cultural engagement, particularly of young people.

The scheme looks at creating a cultural living room for the performing arts, a place where cultural engagement, participation and discovery coexist and are encouraged. The entire site at ground level is a public space dedicated to the making of the arts. All functions related to the ‘making of the performing arts’ are located there, and open to public view: Opera, dance, drama documentation centre; Stage Art Museum; Performance Supporting Rooms (rehearsal rooms, workshops, green rooms, AV production centre. We created a raised body of water, on which all core performance areas are located.

A powerful and confident structure sits on this continuous body of water visually merging with the Shenzhen Bay. Inspired by the traditional Shan shui paintings of mountain and water, a structure of clarity, simplicity and power emerges from the water, and creates a dialogue with the mountain range of Hong Kong across the bay. The building confidently occupies the Shenzhen Bay and becomes the emblem for the thriving metropolis. Just as the Sydney Opera House became the symbol for Australia, this building will become a new icon for culture and for Shenzhen.

The lake provides storm water attenuation to minimise flood risk and stores rainwater as part of a rainwater recycling system. The large surface area of the lake will maximise an evaporative cooling effect on the water, stored as part of low energy cooling strategy, function as a thermal store and heat rejection for both heating and cooling. The design seeks to generate as much water as possible on site. Electric batteries will maximise the contribution from renewable PV generated electricity and photovoltaic (PV) panel will generate renewable electricity. Heating and cooling will use electric chillers and heat pumps to reduce emissions.