Diamond schmitt architects: mariinsky theater ii, st. Petersburg

‘mariinsky theater II’ by diamond schmitt architects, st.petersburg, russia image © diamond schmitt architects all images courtesy of diamond schmitt architects in the historic center of

st.petersburg, one of the largest performing arts facilities in the world and the first in russia since the 19th century just opened it’s doors. designed by toronto-based firm diamond

schmitt architects, the ‘mariinsky cinema II‘ is situated across from the original 1860 opera and ballet house and expands the prolific arts company’s facility by +851,000 square feet. the

entire city block is occupied by a composition of jura limestone masonry and glazing, with a curved metal roof acting as both a tectonic update and formal homage to russian architectural

culture.  both the historic and new buildings in context image © diamond schmitt architects entrance view with the historic structure in the foreground image © diamond schmitt architects

view of the illuminated onyx wall image © diamond schmitt architectsimage courtesy of the mariinsky theater lobby view through the onyx wall image © diamond schmitt architects lobby stair

view image © diamond schmitt architectsimage courtesy of mariinsky theater (left):view of the grand helical staircase image © anatoly belov / project russia magazine (right): the lobby

enjoys a double height image © diamond schmitt architects (left): view up the helix image © nastassia astrasheuskaya (right): ‘mariinsky theater II’ by diamond schmitt architects,

st.petersburg, russia image © diamond schmitt architects double height public spaces and multi-tiered lobbies bisected by an expansive onyx wall that lends an additional sumptuousness to the

material palette. a horseshoe-shaped main auditorium is modeled after classic 18th and 19th century opera houses, complete with three balconies and carefully considered lines of sight. the

wood-clad hall finds its outdoor mirror in an open-air rooftop amphitheater, specifically programmed for the mariinsky’s white nights festival, an affair held during the summer when the sun

barely sets on st.petersburg. the grand building is a fitting continuation of a cultural complex that has seen the premiers of musical masters, among them tchaikovsky, rachmaninoff,

mussorgsky and rimsky-korsakov, while using the power of the built form to pave a clear path for a new age of performers.   view of the main hall from the stage image © nastassia

astrasheuskaya / project russia magazine stage view image courtesy of mariinsky theater stage view from the second floor balcony shows the well-considered lines of sight image courtesy of

mariinsky theater the whole space is acoustically optimized image © anatoly belov / project russia magazine view from the stage area with the house light illumination image courtesy of

mariinsky theater image courtesy of mariinsky theater view into the orchestra pit image © diamond schmitt architects image courtesy of mariinsky theater lighting system view image courtesy

of mariinsky theater aerial rendering image © diamond schmitt architectsimage courtesy of mariinsky theater street view image © diamond schmitt architects lobby image © diamond schmitt

architects one of numerous glazed public meeting spaces image © diamond schmitt architects section image © diamond schmitt architects cat garcia menocal I designboom may 03, 2013