Photograph by Jason Pan
The Egg, more formally known as the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) is located in Beijing, China. Technically, it’s an ellipsoid dome of titanium and glass surrounded by an artificial lake and vast expanse of green space, but the Egg or Water drop building is much easier on the tongue.
The building seats 5,452 people in three halls and is almost 12,000 square meters (129,000 sq ft.) in size. It was designed by French architect Paul Andreu. Construction started in December 2001 and the inaugural concert was held in December 2007.
Photograph by JoeyWan
CONTROVERSY
The location, immediately to the west of Tiananmen Square and the Great Hall of the People, and near the Forbidden City, combined with the theatre’s futuristic design, created considerable controversy. Paul Andreu countered that although there is indeed value in ancient traditional Chinese architecture, Beijing must also include modern architecture, as the capital of the country and an international city of great importance. His design, with large open space, water, trees, was specially designed to complement the red walls of ancient buildings and the Great Hall of the People, in order to melt into the surroundings as opposed to standing out against them.
The initial planned cost of the theatre was 2.688 billion Renminbi ($393.7 million USD). When the construction had completed, the total cost rose to more than 3.2 billion Renminbi ($468.7 million USD). At least 80% of the annual operational costs must be subsidized by the government for at least the first three years after the opening, and for the rest of its operational life, at least 60% of the annual operational cost must be subsidized by the government.
Photograph by Constantin B.
THE EXTERIOR
The Dome
The dome measures 212 meters (696 ft) in east-west direction, 144 meters (472 feet) in north-south direction, and is 46 meters (151 ft) high. The exterior showcases an ingenious material integration of over 18,000 titanium plates and over 1,000 sheets of ultra-white glass, a low-iron glass known for its high rate of light transmission.
Photograph by thewamphyri
The Lake
Taking an area of 35,500 square meters (377,000 sq ft), the mirror-like lake surrounding the Centre combines with the silent oval shell to create an atmosphere of tranquility surrounding the artistic vigor and passion within.
The Green Belt
Around the lake is a 39,000 square meter (420,000 sq ft) green belt, affording the surrounding neighborhood a highly desirable sense of serenity amid the hustle and bustle of a modern city and keeping the NCPA in a tranquil green garden.
Photograph by dchoy
THE INTERIOR
Guests arrive in the building after walking through a hallway that goes underneath the lake. The titanium shell is broken by a glass curtain in north-south direction that gradually widens from top to bottom. Stretching 80 meters beneath the outdoor lake, the Underwater Corridor provides an enchanting passage to the Centre’s grand hall. The glass ceiling allows the light to shimmer through the lake water and create an otherworldly wonderland for visitors coming from the north entrance.
Photograph by chicagopig/minime
The Opera House
The magnificent Opera House is mainly used to stage operas, dance dramas, ballets, and large-scale shows. The arc-shaped metal net wall of the auditorium changes the lights and shadows according to different circumstance to bring the audience into the immersed artistic space with the development of plots. The surface of the ballet stage is made of Oregon timber and its triple-layer construction ensures the greatest possible resilience, helping to protect the feet of dancers. The Opera House can seat 2,416 people.
Photograph by dchoy
The Concert Hall
Exuding an air of serenity and refinement, the silver white Concert Hall is the venue for mainly large symphonic and national music performances. The audience can enjoy all performances from any angle. The Concert Hall is home to a giant pipe organ, the “Hall Guardian”, which is believed to be the largest of its kind in China with 94 stops and an impressive array of 6,500 pipes. The over-100-ton white ceiling of the Concert Hall is specially designed to embody an ideal integration between architectural and acoustic aesthetics. The Concert Hall seats 2,017 people.
Photograph by Cherry Sung
The Theatre
The Theatre is a tribute to the traditional theatre atmosphere of warmth and hospitality, and stages primarily traditional Chinese operas, stage plays and national song and dance. The vertical stripes in purple, dark red, orange and yellow regularly alternate with each other on the walls to express a sense of vividness in quiet, and imagination in realization. The Theater Hall is used for plays and the Beijing opera. It has 1,040 seats
Photograph by Cherry Sung
THE FIFTH SPACE
Among the venues at the National Centre for the Performing Arts are a host of public spaces that are designed to amaze and stimulate. Jointly known as “The Fifth Space”, they include the Underwater Corridor, the Olive Hall, an exhibition gallery, a resource centre, a press room, a terrace lounge, souvenir shops and cafes.
Photograph by Constantin B.
Photograph by chicagopig/minime
Photograph by Constantin B.
Photograph by chicagopig/minime
Photograph by Constantin B.
Photograph by Constantin B.
SOURCES
– The National Centre for Performing Arts: Official Page
– Wikipedia: National Centre for the Performing Arts (China)
Photograph by kubse
Photograph by cybercar4u
Photograph by arndalarm
Photograph by keliubassoon
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