Arch 1204D Writing Architecture

BSc (Hons) Architecture 2023-

2024

Formative Essay – 1000 words

Full Name : Ifrah Arif Maniyar

Word Count : 1026

Declaration

I declare that the work was solely conducted during the Block/Module for
the above award with De Montfort University, under University
supervision.

I declare that no material contained in the essay has been used in any
other submission for an academic award. I confirm that the work
represented in this submission was undertaken solely by myself except
where otherwise attributed.

I certify that I have not used another person to proofread, edit or amend
my work, unless acting in strict compliance with the regulations outlined
in the Code of Practice.

In the event that this statement is proven to be false I acknowledge that I

will have committed an academic offence.
 To Architecture,
Greetings from Organic life
How has Zaha Hadid bridged the gap between nature and
architecture using light and circulation ?

Introduction
The Guangzhou Opera house is a 70,000m 2, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is a two-
structure space, one being an opera house and the other being a multipurpose hall. Located in
Guangzhou, China, on the side of Pearl River, it is the third largest performance space,
coming right after the Shanghai Grand Theatre and Beijing’s National Theatre. The design for
the opera house was chosen through an international competition conducted by the
Guangzhou Municipal Government. Earlier in 1994, Zaha Hadid had won another design
competition for the Cardiff Bay opera house, and “It would have become the most radical and
compelling building in Britain, but an alliance of narrow-minded politicians, peevish
commentators and assorted dullards holding the Lottery purse strings ensured it was never
built.” (the Guardian, 2011)
 Figure1 , Exterior view of the Guangzhou Opera house, Zaha Hadid Architects

History
The City of Guangzhou in China has immense history due to it being a centre of trade and
culture since the 9th Century BC. It was a vital link in the 1500s along the silk road.
Guangzhou’s architecture displays its extensive history through temples that are thousands of
years old and the remnants of the mid-late 20 th century cultural revolution. Architectural
developments in the recent decades of the city have shown a massive change of its style from
traditional to modernistic and deconstructivist. An addition of these recent styles to
Guangzhou’s skyline is the Guangzhou Opera House. Compared to the typical quick pace of
the building process in China, the opera house took 6 years to be built, due to the complicated
mesh steel skeleton, that goes against not just conventional geometry of construction, but the
laws of gravity itself.
The Guangzhou Opera house being built marked a significant turning point in the
infrastructural growth of China. Because of its distinctive and organic style, it stands out
despite blending in nicely with the surrounding high-rise office buildings The landscape and
serene environment around the opera house invites people from all walks of life, letting them
connect with and experience nature in a way never seen before.
Concept and Design
The Guangzhou Opera House has a two-boulder design meant to represent the erosion of
rocks by a river connecting it to its riverside location. Zaha Hadid wanted to create an
interplay between architecture and nature, making the principles of erosion topography and
geology stand out. The landscapes territories and zones are defined by fold lines within the
opera house that separate the interior and exterior for circulation, lobbies, and cafes. The
mesh steel work is covered by concrete of white and grey, transparent glass cutting the façade
that allows natural light to peak through. The larger “boulder” is the main auditorium,
whereas the smaller one is a multipurpose hall, who’s internal layout is flexible, allowing a
variety of events to be held there. The Opera House’s entrance is through a promenade on the
landscape. The existence of the promenade improves the access from the opera house to the
river and the harbour.

Figure 2, Figure 3, Triangular Steel support structure, Zaha Hadid Architects

When making way to the Guangzhou Opera House, the twin boulder design, open
landscape, twinkling night sky and its riverside location make the observer feel a real
connection with nature, despite being near a man-made building. Unlike ordinary structures
that usually only have one path to absorb the entire buildings experience, the opera house
gives the visitor an opportunity of choice. They can choose to go down the staircase leading
to a narrow roadway in the back, follow a ramp that spirals down to an outdoor plaza or take
the roads leading you to the park, the possibilities keep the visitor curious of the space. This
feeling of curiosity continues towards the lobby, a room that embodies a light and airy feeling
that is emphasized by light that enters through a faceted window that wraps around the front
of the lobby.
Light and Nature
The “balanced asymmetry” as Patrik Schummer ,one of the project directors calls it, of the
auditorium and its seating, help with its acoustics and line of sights. To allow the seamless
flow the architectural fluidity on the façade into the interior, Custom moulded glass-fibre
reinforced gypsum units have been used. The form of the curved balconies one above the
other seem to imitate a large waterfall, capturing the ambience of being around one into the
auditorium. The little lights, over 4000 of them, on the ceilings of the balconies and
auditoriums mimic the twinkling reflection of light from the waterfall. Many have even
compared the experience of being inside the auditorium to that of being inside an oyster, or a
whale’s mouth. All these experiences have one thing in common and that is the play of light
and form that Zaha Hadid has used to create a connection between man and nature.

Figure 4, Auditorium's champagne interiors with little Figure 5, Visitor view of the
auditorium,
lights and wavy shape of balconies, Marshell
Day Acoustics
Zaha Hadid Architects
During the daytime, the “pebbles” recreate the look of stones drying in the sun. This aesthetic
is enhanced with the use of concrete on the façade, with the glass representing little bits of
water still waiting to dry. As the sun goes down, the shape of the opera house becomes more
of a mystery due to its dark colour façade that blends in with the night sky. To redefine its
shape, the interior lights visible due to the glass, as well as the exterior lights, which outline
both the boulders are introduced. The existing lights on the staircase as well as the spiral
ramp, help illuminate the way and guide the visitor to the path they choose. The chosen
placement of the lights acts as a form defining element for the opera house, and an attracting
element for passersby. The environment that surrounds the Guangzhou Opera house is
commercial with its buildings lit up by multi coloured lights. The glow of the opera house
blends in perfectly with the city’s aesthetic.

Figure 6, Exterior Lighting placement with ground floor plan, Zaha Hadid Architects

Poor Construction
Keeping all the opera house’s achievements in mind, the poor construction, almost 75,000
exterior stone panels had to be replaced, along with the shoddy plasterwork in the lobbies
where a stray piece of pipe was covered with just extra plaster. This is likely due to the lack
of skilled workers available in the then still developing China. Modernism was also a rather
recent development, leading to a limited selection of people having the expertise of
modernistic engineering and construction.
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