wHY plans 'porous' perm theater in russia to be as welcoming as possible

wHY architecture has unveiled plans to build a new theater in perm, a russian city close to the ural mountains. the project, which has now been approved by local authorities, will form the centerpiece of a major revitalization taking place in the area. as a cultural landmark overlooking the city and sited along the kama river, the building has been designed to be as ‘porous’ and as open as possible, with views of perm on all sides.

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the form of the tchaikovsky academic opera and ballet theater mimics the movement of dance and music, while the palette of materials references the ancient geology of the region and its legacy of copper mining. the square plaza of a traditional theater becomes an organic curved surface which sweeps visitors up into the building and invites them to explore the sculptural diversity of the structure. ramps and walkways create a sense of flow throughout the building, and visitors are encouraged to explore the outdoor spaces in all seasons.

these formal elements of the theater extend to the surrounding park, where a series of paths and terraces create a sense of continuity between the built and natural environment. wHY says that its design seeks to create a dynamic focal point for the city, a celebration of culture and industry, people, and history, which will bring the city into a new era of cultural and economic development.

the director of wHY’s new york office and buildings workshop, andrija stojic, will work closely with wHY’s landscape workshop, directed by mark thomann, to realize the project. ‘our goal is to create a new cultural landmark and an international destination for perm and russia, with a space that reflects the dynamism and creativity of the performances held within,’ andrija stojic explains. ‘I believe that music acts as a bridge between past and future: our design will embrace the history and local culture of perm, while providing the world- class building that the tchaikovsky opera and ballet deserves to have.’

project info:

name: tchaikovsky academic opera and ballet theater
location: perm, russia
architect: wHY architecture