Waterfront venue creates new public link between the city and the river

Tenderstream member BIG has won the design contest for a new home for the Hamburg State Opera, located in the city’s evolving waterfront district. Replacing a former opera house, which dated from the 1950s, the new 45,000 sq m venue responds to the city’s need for a modern facility that meets contemporary acoustic, spatial, and technical standards.

The new venue gives the impression of a landscape of concentric terraces, emanating like soundwaves from the heart of the building and expanding outward into the harbour like ripples on the surface of the sea. Seen from above, the roof traces a continuous circular form that opens toward the harbour. This sculpted topography offers pathways across the building, moving from the quay to elevated gardens, creating outdoor gathering spaces and a new public link between the city and the river. Shaped by the movement of the water, the surrounding park, designed by BIG Landscape, manages storm surges through sloping terraces, vegetated dunes, and wetland gardens that slow and absorb the flow.

Stone pavements from the park continue into the main foyer, where two central timber staircases lead visitors through the building. All main floors have direct access to outdoor terraces, which can transform into arrival points and event spaces. The main hall gathers the audience and performers within a room of gently curved balconies. Bands of horizontally layered timber wrap the interior, creating a continuous surface that carries sound evenly through the space. Behind the main hall, a smaller studio stage, rehearsal rooms, and back-of-house areas are arranged for direct connection to the stage.

David Zahle, partner at BIG, explains: “The new state opera is an invitation to the public to experience their city, the harbour and the opera from a new perspective. Visitors can move along the facades and glimpse into the foyer, rehearsal rooms, backstage areas and offices, revealing the complexity behind a working opera house. With no back side and indoor levels connected to the three-dimensional landscape, the building is open toward its surroundings on all fronts.” 

Lucy Nordberg

Tenderstream Head of Research

This tender was first published by Tenderstream on 24.12.2013 here

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