Renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando has been selected to design Il Teatro, a new performing arts center in Sharjah’s Aljada lifestyle community.
Arada, the master developer, unveiled the striking designs for Il Teatro, set to anchor the Naseej cultural district within Aljada.
Il Teatro, spanning 260,000 square feet, will serve as a comprehensive cultural complex, featuring a 2,000-seat auditorium, a gallery, and a boutique restaurant.
Ando’s design embraces simplicity, with a cylindrical concrete structure facing a multi-layered cultural plaza.
The building’s distinctive feature is a large arched opening, creating a seamless connection between the interior and exterior.
Situated on two levels, the elevated plaza hovers above a water feature and includes a spacious outdoor amphitheatre facing Il Teatro.
The plaza aims to inspire the local artistic community through various events and activities, fostering a multi-dimensional experience.
“I have designed the central structure of the building to be round like the Earth as I wanted to create a new world inside it that will attract not only local people but visitors from around the globe,” Ando, who is also the recipient of the 1995 Pritzker Prize said.
Il Teatro marks Ando’s second project in the UAE, following the Armani Beach Residences at Palm Jumeirah.
Il Teatro: A cultural landmark in Aljada
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, Vice Chairman of Arada, expressed pride in collaborating with Ando, anticipating that Il Teatro will be a significant cultural attraction.
Elie Mrad, Chief Architectural Officer at Arada, added that Ando’s incorporation of natural elements in the design, stating that Il Teatro and its surrounding plaza will serve as a sociocultural meeting place.
“Tadao Ando’s style neatly incorporates a range of natural elements including stone, concrete, light and water, all of which combine to represent the beauty of simplicity,” she said.
Construction on Il Teatro is set to begin next year, with completion scheduled for 2027, contributing to the transformation of Aljada, Sharjah’s largest-ever project, spanning 24 million square feet.
The community features residential districts, retail, hospitality, entertainment, educational, healthcare components, and a business park, all within a green urban master plan.
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