Renderings by Tadao Ando Architect & Associates via Designboom

The Il Teatro Performing Arts Centre can be found in the creative district of Sharjah, UAE, and will be a cultural hub mirroring the country’s growing creative community. Designed by architect Tadao Ando, spread over 24,144sqm, it features a 2000-seat auditorium, outdoor amphitheatre, gallery and a boutique restaurant. The focal point of the surrounding 19 buildings of Aljada, those living in the neighborhood will have multicultural heart at the core of their community.

Ando combines utility and style to create a centre that curves and arches. Symmetry pairs with function to form entry via two green corridors of trees, with workshops, artist studios and cafes scattered throughout. In a move that has art mirroring art, Ando uses water features to reflect his floating plaza. His use of natural materials and undulating design combine to “leave a lasting, intergenerational impact through its emphasis on culture and art. I have designed the central structure of the building to be round like the Earth as I wanted to create a new world inside it that will attract not only local people but visitors from around the globe,” the architect shares.

Billed to host opera, theatre and ballet performances, along with films and exhibitions, construction will start next year, with completion scheduled for 2027.