Busan Opera House Proposal by Kubota & Bachmann Architects

Kubota & Bachmann Architects from Zurich, Switzerland have sent us their entry "Harmony" for the Korean Busan Opera House ideas competition. The design team included Toshihiro Kubota and  Yves Bachmann.

Project Description from the Architects:

Busan is the fifth largest port of the world.

The BUSAN OPERA HOUSE (BOH) is located in the Busan North Port development area. This zone is home to a cultural complex department, museums, a maritime culture center, a cruise center, waterfront causeway, public parks, an opera, a theater and a business district.

It is crucial that the BOH program and its architectural form integrate into the existing master plan, and express the new and unique creative character of the Busan North Port.

The BOH is situated at the southern end of a new artificial island. The form of the proposed project is a direct result of the site conditions: on the one hand, the plan is a response to the island’s outline, and on the other hand, the form of the BOH recalls the silhouette of the mountains surrounding the city. The circular form is also designed to allude to the Taegeuk and the traditional ceramic base. The smooth shape is meant to be a contemporary interpretation of these elements of traditional Korean culture.

As a result, the BOH is designed to provide harmony and balance to the Busan North Port Development.

A particularly key and innovative feature of the proposed design for the BOH is its patio formed by a void in the center of the new Opera House. This void is at the center of the site, and is also at the heart of the project. As Anish Kapoor said, “Emptiness does lead to emptiness”. Everything is organized around this central void: a circular foyer makes a loop and connects the Opera, the Multipurpose Theater and the Multipurpose Hall. This emptiness (which is actually a major space that gives this project an innovative identity) shrouds an exterior bench surrounding a water pond that is directly connected to the sea. This void provides an exceptional location for theatrical events - an extension of the shows occurring inside the BOH- this creating an animated and exceptional space in the Busan North Port.

The temporary stage on the floating platforms in the pond combined with LED screen system -that constitutes a sun protection system for the foyer and ensures a warm space- on the facade of the patio offers a waterfront spectacle every night for all Busan inhabitants.

The BOH is in harmony with the spirit of Busan Port like a beat flowing with music. The chorus lies in the heart of the busan north port: a multitude of impressions coming from multiple sources blend naturally to form a harmonious whole, creating a dramatic and emotional space.

Project Details:

Project Name: Busan Opera House
City and Country: Busan, South Korea
Client: Busan Metropolitan City
Type of Competition: Open International Competition
Program: Opera house (2,000 seats), Multi Purpose Theater (1,300 seats), Common area and Auxiliary facilities
Site Area: Competition Study Area : 35 000 m²
Building Surface (Projet): Total floor area : 60 000 m²
Schedule: The construction start to construct in 2014 (expected)
Result (12th August 2011): Conpetition Entry
Competition entry submission: August 2011

Competition Team:

Designer: Toshihiro KUBOTA, Yves BACHMANN
Landscape Architect: Bassinet Turquin Paysage
Environmental Engineer: Øyvind VESSIA
Perspectives: Sebastien Rageul
Architects: Ikbal BOUAITA
Artist Collaboration: Clement Valla

Find more diagrams and plans in the image gallery below.