AIA South Korea - Busan Opera House
When: Thursday 28 August 2025 @ 06:00 (Eastern US Time)/ 19:00 (South Korea time)
Where: Hanyang University
CES Credits - Estimated 2.0 LU/ HSW for AIA Members
Speakers
Emily Yan, Snohetta, Director
Dong Chen, Cundall, Partner
Moderator
Minjung Maing, AIA, Professor at School of Architecture Hanyang University
Description
Snøhetta (Design Architects) and Cundall (Specialist Structural Engineers) will jointly present the latest developments in the construction of the Busan Opera House, a landmark cultural project poised to redefine the waterfront skyline of Busan.
Snøhetta will open the presentation by unveiling the key architectural design elements that shape the Opera House’s iconic form. Central to the concept is the double-curved façade, composed of two opposing arcs—one grounded to anchor the building to its site, the other rising to embrace the sky. The opera house emerges at the intersection of these curves, symbolizing the meeting of land and sea. This first part of the presentation will focus on the project’s conceptual origins and Snøhetta’s ongoing commitment to preserving the integrity of this vision throughout both the design and construction process.
Cundall will follow with an in-depth look at the steel façade’s structural design strategies that support and enhance Snøhetta’s architectural intent. Their portion will explore the use of digital design and innovative parametric workflows, which have enabled extensive design iterations to refine the building envelope. These cutting-edge approaches have allowed for precise coordination between architectural vision and engineering requirements, resulting in efficient and optimized solutions for construction and fabrication. Cundall’s presentation will also address how these strategies tackle challenges such as structural buildability, material efficiency, and the seamless integration of the project’s ambitious aesthetic goals.
