Friday, December 7, 2007

National Grand Theater: China’s newest architectural phenomenon




Impressed by the splendid architecture of Sydney Opera House, Australia or Canary Islands, Spain? Get ready for yet another magnificent architecture that will put you in awe. I bet, once you see this eye-catching architectural marvel, you’ll stand still with your wide-mouth open for long.

The oval shaped building you see in the picture above is the newest landmark of Beijing. Named National Grand Theater, it’s titanium-plated, $360 million complex just off Tiananmen Square. I won’t be wrong if I say that this is modern architecture is yet another demonstration of China’s economic growth and its desire to outdo the Western world in every respect.

Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, this egg-shaped building houses a 2,416-seat opera house, the 2,017-seat concert hall and the 1,040-seat theater. Totally surrounded by lake this tear drop or egg has an 80-m-long underground gallery with a bright glass roof where water ripples overhead. At the end of the gallery is a huge lobby, probably the largest in a theater anywhere in the world. Pictures really don’t do justice to this architectural marvel. You’ve to see it to believe it. For now, check out the images in the gallery pinned below.

No comments: