wHY's new opera and ballet theater in Russia mimics the movement of dance and music

wHY received approval from the city of Perm, Russa on the design of the new Tchaikovsky Academic Opera and Ballet Theater last month.

Located at the heart of the city, the new building aims to become a focal point for the growing arts district along the Kama River. Accompanied by a new park, the development sits at the center of a cultural revitalization initiative spearheaded by the city's mayor, Dmitry Samoilov.

"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," said Andrija Stojic, director of wHY's New York office and Buildings Workshop. "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."

The design challenges the typical theater typology that favors a closed-off, secluded interior and instead creates a building that captures and connects to the surrounding environment. Fluttered glazing surrounds the new structure, establishing a formal language that mimics the movement of dance and music. Organically shaped stairways run along the transparent perimeter and are complimented by hanging fixtures that capture the ethereal characteristics of musical expression and accentuate the exterior landscape.