Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects
Project Team: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher, Woody K.T. Yao, Simon Yu,
Jason Guo, Yang Jingwen, Long Jiang, Ta-Kang Hsu, Yi-Ching Liu, Zhi Wang,
Hinki Kwong, Junkai Jian, Christine Chow, CyrilShing, Filippo Innocent,
LourdesSanchez
Area: 73 019㎡
Design: 2004
Constructed: 2010

The conceptual design of the Guangzhou opera house is "Two Rounded Gravels". The creative idea is derived from the legend of Haizhu Stone, symbolizing a pair of "gravel stones" formed by the scouring of the Pearl River, taking root in the dynamic urban space.
The undulating and smooth lines and the captivating contours complement the waters of the Pearl River, brimming with vitality and romantic passion.
The auditorium is the core of the opera house. Based on the rationality and scientific nature of the sightline and acoustic design, with an asymmetric, irregular yet balanced body shape and expressive rhythm, it creates a unique and recognizable art palace. Different from the rectangular and bell-shaped plane designs, the auditorium design adopts the concept of a polygonal plane, which can not only optimize the sightline design but also create a sense of enclosure and intimacy for the performers. The design technique of the "staggered and overlapping" of the raised parts on both sides of the orchestra pit and the balcony of the auditorium continues the asymmetric design concept of the polygonal plane of the auditorium, generating a unique artistic effect like "flowing clouds and running water" within the auditorium, enlivening the spatial atmosphere.
The Guangzhou opera house has international influence and has been rated as one of the "Top Ten Opera Houses in the World" (evaluated by USA Today) and the "Most Spectacular Theatre in the World" (evaluated by The Daily Telegraph of the UK), etc. It also won the First Prize for Excellent National Engineering Survey and Design" in 2011.