The Japanese architect Tadao Ando has been named as the designer of Il Teatro, a new performing arts center that will play a prominent role in Sharjah’s largest lifestyle community, Aljada. Arada, the master developer behind Aljada, has revealed the designs of Il Teatro’s striking structure, which will anchor the community’s Naseej cultural district.
A fully fledged cultural complex spread over 260,000 square feet, Il Teatro at Aljada and its surrounding plaza will host a wide variety of performances and shows, including opera, theatre, dance, ballet, musicals, concerts, films, art exhibitions and festivals. As well as a 2,000-seat auditorium, Il Teatro will also incorporate a gallery and boutique restaurant.
Featuring Tadao Ando’s trademark architectural simplicity, the design for Il Teatro consists of a pure, cylindrical concrete mass, which faces a multi-layered cultural plaza. Il Teatro is further defined by a dramatic secondary feature; a large, arched opening that enlivens the front of the building, forming a strong connection between its interior and exterior.
