ADChina_014402_03
The controversial hundreds-million dollars glass and titanium Opera House, designed by French architect Paul Andreu, chosen from among 69 architectural plans submitted by 36 architectural firms in 10 countries in 1999, is intended to be at the core of Beijing's cultural life when it is completed in the end of 2003. ..Located near the Forbidden City in the heart of the capital, the theatre will consist of three halls of Concert Hall, Opera House and Hall for Traditional Entertainment with total number of seats exceeding 6,000. It will house a 2,500-seat opera house, a 2,000-seat concert hall, a 1,200-seat traditional theatre. ..The basic design is an egg-shape dome of 220 meters long, 150 meters wide, and 49 meters high (and 30 to 40 metres above ground) floating on an artificial lake. Its roof part is divided into two parts: glass roof and the Titanium composite material. Picture of completion provides an image of UFO landing on the surface of a lake, an extra located to the west of the Great Hall of the People, the State Theatres will occupy an area of 118,900 square meters and boast a floor space of 149,500 square meters. It is the biggest construction project in central Beijing since the mausoleum of Mao Zedong in 1977. ..Hundreds of labourers have been working for a year to demolish 1,000 homes, restaurants, offices and workshops in the old Hutong area was there...