UNYT is inviting participants to design an Opera House for Estonian Capital Tallinn to mark their legacy and create a cultural center.  

The popularity of the theatre plays and opera shows, created a new typology of structures called “Opera Houses” across the Europe. They became the cultural center of a city housing legendary artists and performers. 

The operas house in Italy, Vienna, Germany, England were some of the first constructed buildings that displayed grandeur. They were often placed in the commercial district of the city. Attending an opera was a social occasion that displayed the prosperity of the upper middle class.

Opera house was identified as an iconic architectural object of their respective cities.

Challenge

Opera houses of Sydney, Valencia, Almaty, Beijing, etc were built subsequently in the 19th Century designed by architects Santiago Calatrava, Norman Foster and Paul Andreu respectively. 

Designing an Opera House (cultural hub) of today that encapsulates the architectural style of 21st Century to create an icon that lasts for decades ahead is challenge in itself.  

How is the demand of cultural preservation served by architecture in the modern society?

The challenge here is to design an “Opera House” for Estonian Capital Tallinn to mark their legacy and create a cultural center. 

Judges

Johan Tali, Architect, Molumba, Estonia

Karli Luik, Architect, Molumba, Estonia

Jacques Ferrier, Founding partner, Ferrier Marchetti Studio, France

Bryan Schmidt, Principal, Semple Brown Design, United States

Timeline

Launch: February 14, 2020

Submission Deadline: 18th Aug 2020

Public Voting begins: 8th Sep 2020

Public Voting ends: 3rd Oct 2020

Result Announcement: 15th Oct 2020

Prizes:

Prize pool of worth 20,000$

First Prize: 5000$ (For students and professionals)

Runner Up: 6 x 1100$ (For students and professionals)

People’s Choice: 4 x 600$ (Open for all)

Honorable Mention: 12 x 500$ Each

Read more about the competition and download the brief on the competition's website.

Top image courtesy of UNYT

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