With construction advancing toward its planned opening in 2025, fresh photographs by StudioSZ document the evolving presence of Snøhetta‘s Shanghai Grand Opera House in the city’s Expo Houtan neighborhood. Designed in collaboration with ECADI, the project introduces a monumental cultural landmark along the Huangpu River, where its spiraling roofline rises in a steady gesture above the waterfront.
The opera house takes shape as a broad, gently rotating form, expressed in layered terraces and sweeping contours that convey a sense of movement anchored in place. At ground level, the structure meets its surroundings through a generous plaza and landscaped edges, drawing visitors toward a continuous, climbable roof that functions as a civic promenade. This rooftop, which will be open throughout the year, establishes a public destination as much as an architectural feature, creating varied vantage points over the river and the city skyline.
The design by Snøhetta references the image of a traditional folding fan, a motif repeated across the project’s interiors and circulation spaces. The architects have described this gesture as evoking the dynamic energy of dance while underscoring a commitment to public ownership. Inside, the composition unfolds in a sequence of overlapping volumes, where lobbies and halls merge with interstitial gathering areas to promote fluid movement among audiences.
Three auditoriums of different capacities are positioned to accommodate a spectrum of performances, ranging from traditional Chinese opera to contemporary experimental productions. The main hall, configured for opera and symphonic work, is complemented by smaller venues for recitals and immersive shows. Warm finishes and measured lighting define the interior palette, supporting an atmosphere that balances clarity with intimacy.
▲ 上海大歌剧院位于世博后滩片区,紧邻黄浦江边,该建筑即将竣工
the Shanghai Grand Opera House is nearing completion along the Huangpu River in the Expo Houtan neighborhood
Snøhetta’s scope encompasses architecture, landscape, interior, and graphic design, reinforcing coherence across scales throughout the Shanghai Grand Opera Hall. The building envelope combines smooth white surfaces with translucent panels that modulate daylight and reveal activity within. A network of terraces and roof pathways extends the public realm vertically, encouraging engagement beyond the primary performance spaces.
The project incorporates a range of supporting amenities. Libraries, rehearsal studios, restaurants, and small cinemas are distributed through the perimeter, broadening the building’s reach beyond evening performances. Each program element has been configured to share visual connections with the larger circulation system, maintaining the clarity of the fan-shaped plan.
The recent images by StudioSZ emphasize the Opera House’s advancing material finishes and landscape integration. Concrete and glass are layered with precision, and the rooftop paths already convey the spatial openness that will characterize the completed project.
▲ Snøhetta建筑事务所与华东建筑设计研究院(ECADI)联合设计了上海大歌剧院,预计将其打造为上海的文化地标
Snøhetta designed the project in partnership with ECADI as a major landmark for Shanghai
▲ 螺旋上升的阶梯屋顶成为了一条公共漫步长廊,游客们可在此俯瞰江景与城市景观
the building’s spiraling roofline forms a climbable public promenade overlooking the river and skyline
▲ 建筑内部空间的设计主题为折扇,表达舞蹈灵动的同时也寓意着城市的开放包容
a folding fan motif shapes the interiors, symbolizing dance and civic openness
▲ 建筑内部设计有三个演艺厅,可以满足各种类型的演出,如传统戏曲、当代实验性艺术演出和小型独奏音乐会演出等
three auditoriums support traditional opera, contemporary performances, and smaller recitals
▲ 屋顶平台与漫步阶梯共同组成竖向的室外公共活动空间
the rooftop terraces and pathways extend public space into the vertical dimension
▲ 温暖的材质与精心调控的光线共同定义了演出场馆内的氛围
warm materials and controlled lighting define the atmosphere within the performance halls