Danish architecture firm BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) has been selected by a unanimous jury to design the new Hamburg State Opera, a major cultural project on the Baakenhöft peninsula in HafenCity. The 45,000-square-meter opera house will replace the existing 1950s building, providing a contemporary home for both the Hamburg State Opera and Hamburg Ballet, with state-of-the-art acoustics, modern technical facilities, and flexible performance spaces.
The design transforms the site into a terraced, circular landscape, evoking soundwaves radiating from a central performance hall. Visitors will be able to explore roof paths, elevated gardens, and multiple entrances from the quay, the park, or a new opera street, creating a seamless connection between public space, the city, and the harbor. The building itself becomes a three-dimensional public park, making the opera a cultural and urban landmark even for those who do not attend performances.
Sustainability and ecology are central to the project, with vegetated terraces, wetland gardens, and stormwater management systems that respond to tidal fluctuations, supporting biodiversity and resilience. Positioned between the Elbturm and the Elbphilharmonie, the new opera will serve as HafenCity’s next cultural anchor, merging architecture, landscape, and the performing arts.
With backing from the Kühne Foundation and the City of Hamburg, construction could begin around 2030, with completion expected by 2034. BIG’s innovative vision promises a building where city, harbor, and culture converge, redefining what an opera house can be in the 21st century. 
Source: BIG with additional information added by Glass Balkan
