İzmir Opera House By Teğet Architecture

The architectural complex designed by Teğet Architecture Office to make up a new transition spot between the coast line and neighborhood life is to add a new artistic value to Izmir.

URBAN HARMONY OF THE BUILDING

One of the most essential features of the structure, which is thought to be built in İzmir Mavi Şehir district, is that the complex can live on its own without breaking its connection with the urban life thanks to several interconnected lounge areas making it look like an independent living city. The complex is quite accessible thanks to many junctions; the city connects to the lower lounge as it is already a transportation space, the coast line connects to the higher lounge, hence to the opera lounge with a ramp square, the neighborhood behind the complex connects to the lower and higher lounges over the roof, opera lounge and Mavişehir road make up a gateway node with lower lounge connection… All of these let the complex be accessible at all hours of the day and night by both pedestrians and drivers coming from any direction. Plus, the square/park laying from the opera towards the coast functions like a door for Mavişehir and the fishing port on the coast. New fishing port, seaway station and fish restaurants are planned on the sea end of the place.

SYSTEMIC PROFILE OF THE BUILDING

As the roof will be open to pedestrians, reinforced concrete was chosen for the constructional system. The construction of glass facade was anchored on concrete cantilever beams. Parterre flooring of the auditorium was made of double-reinforced concrete, middle of which is isolated. The ventilation of the building which will be achieved under the floor is also isolated from the mechanical installation by double-reinforced concrete. And for the balconies, concrete columns and steel trusses nailed on the curtains are used.

AUDITORIUM

Main hall is in the shape of classic horseshoe to keep the audience as close as possible to the stage optically, acoustically and psychologically. The space surrounded by parapets has close contact with the stage; just behind the parterre was surrounded by the VIP tape uplifted slightly behind a parapet. Double-drums between the lounge and hall enables the linkage of various grades and installation lines while ensuring the sound insulation of the hall. Access to different parts of the hall on each floor was sustained with a layout that repeats itself in terms of legibility.

STAGE AND SURROUNDINGS

Within the four-stages layout, the small stage is associated with the side and back stage of the other. The corridors left between enable both the passage of artists and double-walled acoustic isolation. Orchestra pits are linked to each other through a common orchestra lobby on the grade lower than the stage. The service of main stage is provided by two different grades. On the city grade, 4m*16m large lift establishes the connection between grades inside the loading yard directly contacted with side stage and service the workshops below. On the other hand, the ramp taken from the street on the side of Mavişehir enables access to the loading yard on -6.00 grade. Here has direct contact with assembly hall, lower stage, scene store and workshops. These units are related with each other around the montage hall in the same way.

BACKSTAGE YARD (PRODUCTION YARD)

Backstage parts of the Opera House are grouped around a yard on the northern side. Administrative offices, main service units and workshops open to this yard on different elevations. Staff entrance on north side opens to a gallery and employee cafeteria and then to this yard. On the south side between the stage and the yard, units related to the stage are located. These units are connected to each other and the stage via an internal street between the stage and themselves. This internal street gets into action during a show. Backstage is located between the stage and the yard on stage grade. On the lower grade of the backstage is a rest and lounge area for artists which also opens to the yard.

USERS

Izmir Opera House is used in different ways by audience, urbanites, artists, managers and technical team. These different routes of them often intersect on the stage. On the days of show, the places used by the same groups are different than where and how they use in normal working days.

The Team

Mehmet Kütükçüoğlu, Master Architect (team representative)

Ertuğ Uçar, Master Architect

MertÜçer, Architect

Onur Akın, Architect

Emiliano Bugatti, Master Architect

Caner Bilgin, Architect

Assistant Team

İrem Güçlü, Student

Ali Can Atabey, Student

Technical Team – Consultant

Uğur Seymen, Senior Civil Engineer