Heatherwick Studio has revealed the design for the Performative Art Center to be built in the mountains of the tropical island of Hainan, China. The building will host under it undulating roof – inspired by the topography of the island – three performance spaces: the opera house, a concert hall and a theater. The performing arts center will have capacity for 3,800 seats, and will stage international productions that range from large-scale opera to ballet, from musicals to avant-garde drama, from fashion to multimedia performances.

To design the fluid surface of the Haianese Opera, Heatherwick Studio took inspiration from the volcanic landscape of the island and it dynamic colors. The undulating structure was developed with physical modelling and digital processes, and sculpted in order to respond to the local climate, reducing energy consumption. The construction is scheduled to begin towards the end of 2022.