diamond schmitt architects: mariinsky theater II, st.petersburg

‘mariinsky theater II’ by diamond schmitt architects, st.petersburg, russia image © diamond schmitt architects all images courtesy of diamond schmitt architects

in the historic center of st.petersburg, one of the largest performing arts facilities in the world and the first in russia since the 19th century just opened it’s doors. designed by toronto-based firm diamond schmitt architects, the ‘mariinsky cinema II‘ is situated across from the original 1860 opera and ballet house and expands the prolific arts company’s facility by +851,000 square feet. the entire city block is occupied by a composition of jura limestone masonry and glazing, with a curved metal roof acting as both a tectonic update and formal homage to russian architectural culture.

both the historic and new buildings in context image © diamond schmitt architects

entrance view with the historic structure in the foreground image © diamond schmitt architects

view of the illuminated onyx wall image © diamond schmitt architectsimage courtesy of the mariinsky theater

lobby view through the onyx wall image © diamond schmitt architects

lobby stair view image © diamond schmitt architectsimage courtesy of mariinsky theater

(left):view of the grand helical staircase

image © anatoly belov / project russia magazine

(right): the lobby enjoys a double height image © diamond schmitt architects

(left): view up the helix

image © nastassia astrasheuskaya

(right): ‘mariinsky theater II’ by diamond schmitt architects, st.petersburg, russia image © diamond schmitt architects

double height public spaces and multi-tiered lobbies bisected by an expansive onyx wall that lends an additional sumptuousness to the material palette. a horseshoe-shaped main auditorium is modeled after classic 18th and 19th century opera houses, complete with three balconies and carefully considered lines of sight. the wood-clad hall finds its outdoor mirror in an open-air rooftop amphitheater, specifically programmed for the mariinsky’s white nights festival, an affair held during the summer when the sun barely sets on st.petersburg. the grand building is a fitting continuation of a cultural complex that has seen the premiers of musical masters, among them tchaikovsky, rachmaninoff, mussorgsky and rimsky-korsakov, while using the power of the built form to pave a clear path for a new age of performers.