The design conceived by GMP and Stephan Schütz in association with Nicolas Pomränke won an international competition in 2004. The project has been unveiled after five years of construction. The Qingdao Grand Theatre is designed to house an opera house for up to 1,600 visitors, a concert hall with 1,200, and a multi-functional hall with 400 seats. A museum and a hotel are also featured.
Qingdao Grand Theater’s formal language of the building complements the scenic landscape. The massifs of the mountains and the lightness of clouds determine the appearance of the opera. Like a mountain, it rises from the landscape with a seemingly floating roof enclosing the four structures. The elevated terraces on the surrounding park resemble a mountain plateau, and are geared not only towards the sea as well as to the mountains.
The actual opera house is located in the northern part of the complex and provides direct visual links to the coast. The public can enter the hall on two floors. The lower area features large wardrobes with the main lobby housing large glass facades and views of the terrace, the park and the Yellow Sea. Walls and floor of the foyer is clad with local stone, which emphasizes the rock-like character of the building.
The stage and backstage areas in terms of equipment meet the highest international standards. They are designed in a flexible manner to hold different sizes and types of events, be it opera, musicals, ballet and acrobatic performances. The stands and two balconies offer the best possible view options to all viewers.
The concert and multi-function hall are housed in one building. The foyer of the concert hall is located on the top floor. The auditorium acoustics and equipment corresponds to international standards. The multi-functional hall can be accessed via wide stairs in the lower basement.
