Hemispheric Theater

Santiago Calatrava's Hemispheric Theater from Valencia, Spain, an Imax cinema, Planetarium and Laserium.

• L'Hemisfèric — an Imax Cinema, Planetarium and Laserium. The building is meant to resemble a giant eye, and has an approximate surface of 13,000 m². The Hemesferic also known as the planetarium or the “eye of knowledge,” is the centerpiece of the City of Arts and Sciences. It was the first building completed in 1998. Its design resembles an eyelid that opens to access the surrounding water pool. The bottom of the pool is glass, creating the illusion of the eye as a whole. This planetarium is a half-sphere composed of concrete 110 meters long and 55.5 meters wide. The shutter is built of elongated aluminum awnings that fold upward collectively to form a brise soleil roof that opens along the curved axis of the eye. It opens to reveal the dome, the pupil of the eye, which is the Ominax theater. The City of Arts and Sciences is divided in half by a set of stairs that descend into the vaulted concrete lobby. The underground spaces are illuminated with the use of translucent glass panels within the walking path. The transparent roof is supported by concrete arches that connect to the sunken gallery. There is a miraculous echo inside of the building and if two people stay on the two opposite pillars inside of the eye they can seamlessly speak with each other.

Source: wikipedia.org

Jinan Grand Theater

Jinan Grand Theater by Chinapaul Andreu architecte.

The building complex is situated in the park surrounded by landscape. All building parts form a composition around a gravity centre in the middle. The 3 roof shells of the Grand Theatre span a force line to the 3 towers. The common architectural language of all building parts will give the identity to the site and the whole New West Jinan area. The building has a highly memorisable icon effect. Public life will be concentrated in the centre of the complex so that cultural exchange can happen. The roof on each side of the Central Plaza will give shelter to the visitors while the in-between space is open and glazed to bring in light into that open space. The glazed centre part will permit to cross from one to the other side even during the rain periods.

Architect: Paul Andreu architecte
Associated local architect: BIAD (Beijing institute of architectural design)
Location: Jinan, China
Client: Construction & investment co., ltd for Jinan west district
Programme: opera house (1800 seats); concert hall (1600 seats); theater (500 seats); shopping center (60,000m2)
Area: 72,000 m2
Stage design: ducks
Acoustics: Kahle acoustics

(Sources: wordlesstech.com and europaconcorsi.com)