Designed by BIG in collaboration with ALB-Architect, the Opera & Ballet Theatre of Kosovo will house four performance halls and a new public plaza in the capital of Pristina. Symbolising the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, the theatre will be the first opera house in the Republic of Kosovo, reflecting a new identity for Prishtina rooted in creativity and a commitment to the country’s artistic growth.
Commissioned by Kosovo’s Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport (MKRS), the Opera & Ballet Theatre of Kosovo will include a 1,200-capacity Concert Hall, 1,000-capacity Theatre Hall, 300-seat Recital Hall, Theatre Room, and Education and Conference Centre under one roof. Situated next to the Palace of Youth & Sports, the Fadil Vokrri Stadium, and the Public Services Ministry, the theatre will be part of a dynamic new cultural corridor at the heart of the city.
“We are deeply honoured to be entrusted with the design of the new home for the performing arts in a country that has gifted the world with an outsized cultural impact in the performing arts. Our design for the Opera & Ballet Theatre of Kosovo is conceived like an efficient factory for the fabrication of artistic expression. The rational nucleus is wrapped in a continuous canopy, creating an engaging public space open in all directions. The undulating roof creates a flowing and inviting presence evocative of the Xhubleta, the traditional national dress of Kosovo.” – Bjarke Ingels, Founder & Creative Director, BIG
