Royal Polish Opera, Warsaw , 2023

Surrounded by lush trees, the building seamlessly integrates into the park with its free form. Its edges emerge from the gaps between the trees. To refine the composition, clusters of trees were intentionally added that correspond with the building and enhance the connection to the surrounding park through directed shadows and reflections that amplify the atmosphere.

A central element of the design is the public foyer. The spacious entrance arches welcome opera guests and also invite passers-by in the park to pay a casual visit. Thus, the design proposes a pathway accessible to the public at all times, leading from the rooftop terrace to the other side of the building where the restaurant, open even outside concert times, is located.

The opera hall appears acoustically and spatially like a musical instrument – a metaphor for a sounding box. The sensation of being inside an instrument creates an atmosphere of intimacy and complete concentration. Like the public foyer, the hall aims to bring guests close to the music. This is achieved literally and spatially through a connection between the orchestra pit and the proscenium. When necessary, this proximity can be further enhanced by raising the orchestra to the level of the audience or even connecting it directly with the front rows of the audience. The potential of this project lies in the interplay of urban development, structure and function of the building with its surroundings and music.