Opéra Bastille, France

Opportunity

It opened in 1989 to mark the bicentennial of the French Revolution, but was never completed. The planned 800-seat modular hall was never built, leaving a 1400m² empty concrete shell in the heart of the venue. Thirty years on, the French Ministry of Culture and the Opéra National de Paris decided to finish the modular hall, and build an extension for more workshops.

Solution

After a competitive process, we were selected to review the design consortium’s plans to ensure the building functions as intended and meets the objectives set by the Opéra National de Paris. We helped update the tendering documents in close collaboration with the organisation’s artistic and technical teams.

During the review of proposals and dialogue with parties tendering for the work, our focus was on meeting client expectations as well as the project’s architectural aspirations. The aim was to respect the original architecture while modernising the Opéra Bastille. We ensured that all architectural changes integrated with the original design of the building, as envisioned Carlos Ott, the Uruguayan architect who designed it.

Outcome

When it opens in 2023, the new modular hall at the Opéra Bastille will enable the Opéra National de Paris to stage a greater variety of shows and develop its private event activities. The new space in the core of the building, coupled with the workshop extensions, will also help improve working conditions opera staff.