Guangzhou Opera House. [Photo/goz.gov.cn]

Guangzhou Opera House (GOH) is one of the seven landmark buildings constructed in Guangzhou in recent years. It is located in the Zhujiang New Town, the city’s new business, economic and cultural center now under construction.

Co-designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate Zaha Hadid and Wallace Clement Sabine Medal winner Arthur Harold Marshall, a world top acoustics master, the GOH looks like "A Pair of Smooth Cobbles", gently lying on a hill slope, making it very eye-catchy along the Pearl River.

At a casual glance from a distance, it appears like two pepper stones separated by water flow and two grey pieces of plasticine put aside by a child. Viewed at a closer distance, it becomes two round and smooth gravels, big and small, black and white, peacefully located on the banks of the Pearl River.

Of the pair of "cobbles", the bigger one is actually a 1,800 seat grand theater along with a recording studio and an art gallery while the smaller one is a 400-seat multi-functional theater. The interior of the GOH has adopted Mr.Marshall’s exclusive design of embracement style grandstand with reference to his distinguished acoustic research.

Large scale comprehensive performances could be staged in the grand theater, while the stage and seats in the multi-functional theater could be moved away when necessary. A series of performances ranging from avant-garde, private concerts, operas, etc., could be held in the multi-functional theater. It is also one of the few "black box" theaters worldwide.

Address: No.1 West Zhujiang Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe district