We think the enormous, fan-shaped, stair roof on the Shanghai Grand Opera House could be one of the defining architectural landmarks in all of China. That roof. Wow.

Snøhetta’s Shanghai Grand Opera House is rising along the Huangpu River, and its massive, spiraling fan-shaped roof unfolding atop layered public terraces—a civic rallying point as much as a performance venue.

A person walking up the spiraling staircase beneath the fan-shaped roof of the Shanghai Grand Opera House, showcasing its unique architectural design.

The sweeping structure blends a climbable rooftop, sweeping glass facades, and thermal-white surfaces that glow like lanterns, inviting visitors day and night.

Aerial view of the Shanghai Grand Opera House's massive, spiraling fan-shaped roof, showcasing its layered design and smooth surfaces.

Set to open later this year, the ambition, scale, and grace of the opera house invites a sense of wonder and discovery, and is definitely going to cement Shanghai as a cultural and architectural powerhouse.

Interior view of the Shanghai Grand Opera House under construction, showcasing large glass panels and angular architectural elements.

See renderings of the finished space in our previous post.

Aerial view of the spiral, fan-shaped roof of the Shanghai Grand Opera House, with construction workers visible on the structure.

The rooftop terraces and winding pathways elevate public space—literally—transforming the roof into a vertical extension of the city.

A striking fan-shaped roof structure of the Shanghai Grand Opera House, showcasing its sweeping curves and layered public terraces.

Edited by Ben VanderVeen · About Moss & Fog

Author

Ben VanderVeen is the founder and editor of Moss & Fog, one of the web’s longest-running visual culture destinations. Since 2009, he’s been finding and framing the most beautiful, surprising, and thought-provoking work in art, architecture, design, and nature — reaching over 325,000 readers each month. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

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