The National Grand Theater in Beijing

Among some of the most stunning modern architecture in the world is China’s National Grand Theater in Beijing. One of the many buildings constructed in Beijing in anticipation of the 2008 Olympic games, the National Grand Theater stands out as a gem of modern architectural design. The eggshell shaped theater is encased in glass and titanium and sits in the center of a man-made lake. This innovative design was the work of French architect, Paul Andreu.

In 1999, Paul Andreu won an international competition to be the architect of the National Grand Theater. Paul Andreu was already accustomed to designing innovative structures; he was the man responsible for the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, among others. Now he was faced with the challenge of building a structure in historic Beijing, which was modern, but did not offend the historic architecture already in place. Some say he succeeded, others say no. Either way, the National Grand Theater is unique in both design and aesthetics.

Construction began on the National Grand Theater in 2001. The site that was chosen for its construction is immediately to the west of Tian’an men square and the Forbidden City. Paul Andreu took great pains to ensure that the theater did not dwarf the nearby government building. Aspects of the design also compensate for high winds and seismic activity. Noise from the busy streets was also a concern. The glass panels of the building improve the acoustics on the inside while filtering noise from the outside.

One of the most interesting aspects of the National Grand Theater’s design is the lake. It surrounds the entire building while giving it the impression that it is floating on the lake. In fact, the National Grand Theater has no doors or open windows in its exterior, giving it an even more solitary appearance. You can only access the theater through a 196 ft., glass-roofed tunnel that runs under the lake.

The interior of the National Grand Theater was meant to be like a city theater district. There are restaurants, shops, and much more located within the building. There is even a lounge near the roof where visitors can view the city. In the center of the National Grand Theater is its Opera House, which can seat up to 2,398 visitors. To the east is the Concert Hall, which can seat up to 2,019 visitors. And to the west is the theater, which can seat up to 1,035 visitors.

The National Grand Theater opened for business in December of 2007. Now visitors can see musical performances, ballets and much more at this spectacular venue. You don’t even need to be there for a performance if you would like to visit the theater, you can just pop in for some food or shopping and have a look around.

Sources

National Grand Theater Ready for Showtime, retrieved 7/30/09, en.beijing.cn/news/olympiccities/beijing/n214161059.shtml

Saieh, Nico, National Grand Theater of China/Paul Andreu, retrieved 7/30/09, archdaily.com/1218/national-grand-theater-of-china-paul-andreu

Guo, Diane, National Grand Theater of China Beijing Paul Andreu, retrieved 7/30/09, daapspace.daap.uc.edu