The Harbin Opera House is located in Harbin, a city in northern China. The opera house covers approximately 8 hectares of the total 180-hectare area and serves as the focal point of the cultural island. The opera house includes a large hall with a seating capacity of 1,600 and a smaller hall with 400 seats.
Built on the wetlands of Harbin, the Opera House is designed to reflect the untamed nature and cold climate of the northern city. The design draws inspiration from the winding forms of the surrounding environment, resulting in a curved facade made of smooth white aluminum panels, where edges, surfaces, softness, and hardness flow poetically into one another.
The large hall is clad in wood as a warm and inviting element. The walls made of Manchurian ash wood fluidly surround the main stage and seating area. In the smaller hall, the interior is connected to the exterior through a large panoramic window at the back of the stage, providing a seamless link between the two spaces.
