Hadid: Canton Opera House (Guangzhou)

Two "twin stones" with a core of reinforced concrete and a shell formed by a triangular steel mesh emerge from a common base to house the two halls of the Opera House. Guangzhou, known in the West as Canton, is a megalopolis of 11 million inhabitants, China's third largest city, at the top of an impressive uninterrupted conurbation that also includes Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao. For the architects, the concept of the natural landscape, and in particular the study of the river and its erosion action, has evolved into a relationship of interaction between architecture and nature. Luminous and enveloping lines create the paths inside and outside the architecture as if they were canyons carved by the action of the river. The building consists of two distinct bodies of different sizes, the first larger one is occupied by the Opera House with cutting-edge acoustic solutions and 1800 seats, the second is the multifunctional auditorium, which with its 400 seats is designed for art performances, operas and concerts in the round.