Busan Camellian Opera House, the Metropolitan City of Busan, South Korea, organized an architectural competition in 2012 for the city’s Opera House. The contest brought together a lineup of famous international architecture studios – with a winning proposal from Snøhetta – putting the city of Busan on the international cultural map. The challenge was not easy – architects had to design an iconic project for the city, which would also work as the future cultural hub. The 34.928 sqm site was full of potential – located in the northern port, it is the city’s gateway from the sea.
Courtesy of Matteo Cainer
The Busan Camellian Opera House proposal by Matteo Cainer Architects was appreciated by the jury, receiving an Honorable Mention. Its architectural concept was based on Busan’s official flower, the camellia – its petals symbolize the people of Busan, while its flower reflects the blossoming future of its cultural life. The organic geometry derives from the shape of the flower, creating a welcoming architecture. Transparent glass is the project’s main material, contrasted by the overhanging ‘petals’, covered with vegetation. The green approach is also reflected by the architects’ option for a sustainable design, adding to the landscape feel of the project.
Courtesy of Matteo Cainer
The metaphorical value of the proposal is doubled by the spatial quality created by the architects. An interesting feature of this project is its exterior space, with urban squares and public amphitheaters looking at the city over the water. With a total surface area of 56,600 sqm, the Camellian Opera House hosts an opera theater of 2180 seats and a multiform theater of 1360-2220 seats. Besides its cultural function, the project also includes a restaurant with spectacular views of the city and sea, placed in a dramatic high-level cantilevered structure.
Courtesy of Matteo Cainer
The blooming shape of the architecture works perfectly as a cultural center for the city of Busan. The Camellian Opera House is an ideal set for the merger of arts and nature. As its symbolism evokes the spirit of the city and its people, the project could become more than a cultural hub – it could become a landmark for Busan and its citizens.
Project info:
Architects: Matteo Cainer Architects
Country: Korea, Busan
Year: 2012
use: opera house and multiform theatre
opera capacity: 2180 seats
multi-functional theatre capacity: 1360- 2220 seats
site: marine cultural region, north port, jung-gu, busan, south korea.
site area: 34,928 sqm
total floor area: 56,600 sqm
Ana Cosma is an editor at Arch2O with a deep-rooted passion for architecture and urban design. Drawing on nearly a decade of architectural experience across prominent firms in Stuttgart, Germany—including Exyte, BWK.Architekten, and SCD Architekten—Ana brings a practiced eye and international perspective to her editorial work. Her academic foundation in Architecture and Urbanism from Politehnica University of Timișoara, complemented by a study period at Sapienza Università di Roma, informs her nuanced approach to exploring contemporary urban challenges and design innovations. At Arch2O, Ana curates and contributes insightful articles that bridge professional practice with emerging trends in urbanism and architectural theory.