Designed by MAD architects, the opera house is a reminder of Harbin's cultural heritage. <br />
Harbin, China —
Designed by MAD architects, the opera house is a reminder of Harbin's cultural heritage.
Iwan Baan
In the middle of the low lying wetlands in Northern China, there's an opera house that camouflages perfectly with the surrounding nature.
Harbin, China —
In the middle of the low lying wetlands in Northern China, there's an opera house that camouflages perfectly with the surrounding nature.
Iwan Baan
One of China's second-tier cities, Harbin became an urban area as a Russian railroad destination in 1800s, then transformed into a cultural capital with the establishment here of the first Chinese orchestra.
Harbin, China —
One of China's second-tier cities, Harbin became an urban area as a Russian railroad destination in 1800s, then transformed into a cultural capital with the establishment here of the first Chinese orchestra.
Iwan Baan
Each curve of the building eases into the surrounding landscape.
Harbin, China —
Each curve of the building eases into the surrounding landscape.
Iwan Baan
"Before we built this building there were a lot of people coming to the site, fishing, cycling in the wild landscape, so I was thinking after we build this building it should still be very welcoming, so the building is not a typical landmark you can only look at it," says Ma Yansong, founder of the MAD Architects.<br />
Harbin, China —
"Before we built this building there were a lot of people coming to the site, fishing, cycling in the wild landscape, so I was thinking after we build this building it should still be very welcoming, so the building is not a typical landmark you can only look at it," says Ma Yansong, founder of the MAD Architects.
Iwan Baan
"I decide to make the building itself like a landscape. So we designed an amphitheater on the rooftop and connected that level to the ground level through a ramp, stairs, outdoor stairs so people can literally climb the building like they climb a mountain," says Ma Yansong.
Harbin, China —
"I decide to make the building itself like a landscape. So we designed an amphitheater on the rooftop and connected that level to the ground level through a ramp, stairs, outdoor stairs so people can literally climb the building like they climb a mountain," says Ma Yansong.
Iwan Baan
Curvature is a defining feature of the building, which welcomes visitors who aren't necessarily there to see an opera.
Harbin, China —
Curvature is a defining feature of the building, which welcomes visitors who aren't necessarily there to see an opera.
Iwan Baan
"I want to bring architecture beyond the functional, beyond the shape and the space and the light ... I create an atmosphere in which people can imagine things," says Ma.
Harbin, China —
"I want to bring architecture beyond the functional, beyond the shape and the space and the light ... I create an atmosphere in which people can imagine things," says Ma.
Iwan Baan
"Our citizens are proud that they possess this kind of world-standard opera house ... They love the city more, and are more confident about art development in the future," says the Mayor of Harbin, Song Xibin.
Harbin, China —
"Our citizens are proud that they possess this kind of world-standard opera house ... They love the city more, and are more confident about art development in the future," says the Mayor of Harbin, Song Xibin.
Iwan Baan
The Harbin Opera House

Story highlights

The new Harbin Opera House looks like an extension of the surrounding landscape.

A stairwell spiraling around the exterior leads up to a viewing platform.

The project's architect says nature will play a bigger role in the future of urban planning.

CNN  — 

The mind-bending ice sculptures at Harbin’s annual winter festival may have put the northern Chinese city on the map. But this year, it’s the new Harbin Opera House that’s stealing the show.

From above, the blazing white 850,349-square-foot venue looks like an extension of the surrounding wetlands, waterways, and snowy terrain.

Inside, the bold and beautiful Harbin Opera House achieves zen aesthetics with contemporary white walls, atmospheric skylights and tons of timber.

Ma Yansong, founding principal of the Beijing-based MAD architectural firm which designed the structure, hopes the venue will inspire a more natural approach to architecture in heavily populated cities. Harbin is home to 3.4 million people.

“There’s an emotional aspect of architecture and urban space that’s lacking in modern architecture and urban planning,” says Ma.

Setting the scene

The Harbin Opera House is the centerpiece of Harbin’s Cultural Island – a new arts hub by the Songhua River, which will include the Harbin Labor Recreation Center and Harbin Great Square.

“I want to make the building blend into the horizon so it feels like part of the land,” says Ma. “I took this pattern of the water flowing from the river banks, and I turned it into modern architecture.”

While modern landmark buildings in Chinese cities are often be towering and imposing, MAD wanted its snow-white structure to have a soothing aesthetic.

Located in the oceanfront of Southern China, this vast residential complex combines high rise structure and undulating typology, aiming for a high-density solution.
Fake Hills (2015), Beihai, China —
Located in the oceanfront of Southern China, this vast residential complex combines high rise structure and undulating typology, aiming for a high-density solution.
MAD Architects
The design for Urban Forest is intended to integrate nature with "stacked" open floors and areas that include patios and sky gardens.
Urban Forest (2009), Chongqing, China —
The design for Urban Forest is intended to integrate nature with "stacked" open floors and areas that include patios and sky gardens.
MAD Architects
Floor to ceiling glass windows provide a panoramic view of the city.
Urban Forest (2009), Chongqing, China —
Floor to ceiling glass windows provide a panoramic view of the city.
Image: Courtesy MAD Architects
The polished bronze metal facade of the Ordos Museum is intended to represent the rising sun over the surrounding grasslands.
Ordos Museum (2011), Inner Mongolia, China —
The polished bronze metal facade of the Ordos Museum is intended to represent the rising sun over the surrounding grasslands.
Iwan Baan/courtesy mad architects
Influenced by Buckminster Fuller's geodesic domes, the architects designed a form of abstract container to protect the interior from its harsh local climate.
Ordos Museum (2011), Inner Mongolia, China —
Influenced by Buckminster Fuller's geodesic domes, the architects designed a form of abstract container to protect the interior from its harsh local climate.
Iwan Baan/courtesy mad architects
The Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center embodies the Chinese notion of "shanshui," meaning mountain and water. The building responds to the surrounding mountains and rivers while meeting the material needs of urban life.
Nanjing Zendai Himalays Center (2017), Nanjing, China —
The Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center embodies the Chinese notion of "shanshui," meaning mountain and water. The building responds to the surrounding mountains and rivers while meeting the material needs of urban life.
MAD Architects
Curvaceous glass walls flow like waterfalls and corridors and paths weave through the complexes, creating a poetic movement.
Nanjing Zendai Himalays Center (2017), Nanjing, China —
Curvaceous glass walls flow like waterfalls and corridors and paths weave through the complexes, creating a poetic movement.
Image: Courtesy MAD Architects
The project is on track to be completed in 2017.
Nanjing Zendai Himalays Center (2017), Nanjing, China —
The project is on track to be completed in 2017.
Image: Courtesy MAD Architects
Located at the intersection of two main streets, the Absolute Towers are one of the city's well-known landmarks.
Absolute Towers (2012), Mississauga, Canada —
Located at the intersection of two main streets, the Absolute Towers are one of the city's well-known landmarks.
Iwan Baan/courtesy MAD Architects
The Absolute Towers look as if they are "rotating", depending on your vantage point.
Absolute Towers (2012), Mississauga, Canada —
The Absolute Towers look as if they are "rotating", depending on your vantage point.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
The buildings' curvaceous form has been likened to Marilyn Monroe.
Absolute Towers (2012), Mississauga, Canada —
The buildings' curvaceous form has been likened to Marilyn Monroe.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
The Harbin Opera House effortlessly blends in with its surroundings in the untamed northern region.
Harbin Opera House (2015), Harbin, China —
The Harbin Opera House effortlessly blends in with its surroundings in the untamed northern region.
Hufton Crow/courtesy mad architects
Made of white aluminum panels and glass pyramids, the opera house references the snow and ice of Harbin's sub-zero climate.
Harbin Opera House (2015), Harbin, China —
Made of white aluminum panels and glass pyramids, the opera house references the snow and ice of Harbin's sub-zero climate.
Iwan Baan/courtesy MAD architects
With an interior sculpted from Manchurian Ash wood, its spatial arrangement offers world-class acoustics.
Harbin Opera House (2015), Harbin, China —
With an interior sculpted from Manchurian Ash wood, its spatial arrangement offers world-class acoustics.
Adam Mork/courtesy mad architects
Located near the Huangshan Mountains in China's Anhui province, this village blurs the boundaries between modern architecture and nature.
Huangshan Mountain Village (2015), Huangshan, China —
Located near the Huangshan Mountains in China's Anhui province, this village blurs the boundaries between modern architecture and nature.
Image: Courtesy MAD Architects
The village faces the serene Taiping lake.
Huangshan Mountain Village (2015), Huangshan, China —
The village faces the serene Taiping lake.
courtesy mad architects
Its form blends seamlessly into the surrounding limestone cliffs.
Huangshan Mountain Village (2015), Huangshan, China —
Its form blends seamlessly into the surrounding limestone cliffs.
courtesy mad architects
The UNIC, still under construction, will be built in collaboration with the French architecture firm Biecher Architectes.
UNIC, Paris —
The UNIC, still under construction, will be built in collaboration with the French architecture firm Biecher Architectes.
MAD Architects
The 50-meters-tall building, situated in the neighborhood of Clichy-Batignolles, is made of 13 organically stacked terraces.
UNIC, Paris —
The 50-meters-tall building, situated in the neighborhood of Clichy-Batignolles, is made of 13 organically stacked terraces.
courtesy mad architects
The Chaoyang Park Plaza, composed of over 120,000 square meters, took inspiration from Chinese classical landscape paintings, which often feature lakes, springs, forests, and stones.
Chaoyang Park Plaza (2016), Beijing, China —
The Chaoyang Park Plaza, composed of over 120,000 square meters, took inspiration from Chinese classical landscape paintings, which often feature lakes, springs, forests, and stones.
Image: Courtesy MAD Architects
Completed in 2016, the Chaoyang Park Plaza has green features such as natural lighting and a passive ventilation system integrated in the complex.
Chaoyang Park Plaza (2016), Beijing, China —
Completed in 2016, the Chaoyang Park Plaza has green features such as natural lighting and a passive ventilation system integrated in the complex.
courtesy mad architects
The smooth vertical lines flowing down the buildings resemble river stones that have been eroded over a long period of time.
Chaoyang Park Plaza (2016), Beijing, China —
The smooth vertical lines flowing down the buildings resemble river stones that have been eroded over a long period of time.
MAD Architects
The China Wood Sculpture Museum is an example of a sustainable design by MAD Architects. Solid walls help to save energy and retain heat.<br />
China Wood Sculpture Museum (2013), Harbin, China —
The China Wood Sculpture Museum is an example of a sustainable design by MAD Architects. Solid walls help to save energy and retain heat.
Iwan Baan/courtesy mad architects
Polished metal plates on the exterior mirror the city lights at night.
China Wood Sculpture Museum (2013), Harbin, China —
Polished metal plates on the exterior mirror the city lights at night.
Image: Courtesy MAD Architects
This metallic bubble is located in one of Beijing's oldest neighborhoods.
Hutong Bubble 32 (2009), Beijing, China —
This metallic bubble is located in one of Beijing's oldest neighborhoods.
Image: Courtesy MAD Architects
The Hutong Bubble, a designer outhouse with a single toilet and staircase, is part of an initiative to help the community.
Hutong Bubble 32 (2009), Beijing, China —
The Hutong Bubble, a designer outhouse with a single toilet and staircase, is part of an initiative to help the community.
courtesy mad architects
'MAD' visions

“We used the building’s shape to create an outdoor space where people would feel comfortable and want to stay,” says Ma. “I wanted people to be able to climb the building, like a mountain.”

A stairwell spiraling around the exterior leads up to a viewing platform, enabling visitors to explore every inch of the opera house.

“It’s more than just a typical landmark that you can only look at,” says Ma.

An opera doesn’t have to be in session for guests to visit. The building is always open to the public, and features an open-air pavilion for performances, weddings, and picnics.

“It’s art that people can look at, enter and use,” says Ma. “I think that’s what I want to bring to architecture. Beyond the functional – the shape and the space and the light – I want to bring atmosphere.”

Proof of its success, perhaps, are the scores of Chinese couples flocking to the building to have their wedding photographs taken.

The show must go on

With such a subtly arresting facade, one might assume that the opera halls play second fiddle.

But MAD’s nature-inspired design continues inside the two theaters.

Seemingly carved out of Manchurian Ash wood, the 1,600-guest Grand Theater feels rich and warm.

If it weren’t for the skylights, sitting in here might feel like watching the opera from deep inside the belly of a tree.

The Harbin Opera House's outdoor spaces feel like extensions of the snowy surrounds.
The Harbin Opera House's outdoor spaces feel like extensions of the snowy surrounds.
Iwan Baan

Nature is also part of the performance in the second, more intimate theater. This 400-guest venue features a sound-proof wall of windows which showcases a panoramic backdrop.

“The connection between the interior and the exterior landscape is very important to me,” says Ma.

“I like when you sit there and you look at the natural light streaming in, and the concrete walls become natural waves like water flowing from outside.”

Elsewhere in the building, wide wooden stairwells wind ethereally through the opera house, while light coming in through skylights bounces off the sparkling white walls.

Designing for the future

Ma predicts that nature will play a bigger role in the future of urban planning, beyond Harbin’s wetlands.

“We are at a turning point. We still have a lot of people making very classic modern architecture that’s built for efficiency – a lot of straight lines, 90-degree corners, the boxes that we normally see in the city,” says Ma.

Timber interiors and interactive public spaces are signatures of the Harbin Opera House.
Timber interiors and interactive public spaces are signatures of the Harbin Opera House.
Iwan Baan

“As buildings get taller and cities denser, designers need to instill a sense of community and nature in their architecture.”

“Humans feel so lost in these large-scale structures.”

When planning cities, Ma thinks it’s time to start talking about the emotional connection between humans and nature.

“Typical modern urban developments look the same everywhere. They’re huge scale, they don’t have enough public space,” says Ma. “They’re not designed for community.

“(I think we should) bring in some beautiful scenery, so people can always look in one direction and imagine something beyond the modern high-density urban context.”