Snøhetta has revealed visuals for a major new opera house in China, featuring a spiralling stepped roof that will connect the upper levels of the building with a riverside plaza.
The architecture and design firm, which was founded in Norway, teamed up with Chinese studio ECADI on its competition-winning design for the Shanghai Grand Opera House.
Set to be built beside the Huangpu River, it is expected to provide a major new cultural landmark for China's biggest city.

The building's most prominent feature will be a tiered roof that spirals down to ground. This is intended by Snøhetta to resemble an unfolding fan, evoking the feeling of movement and dance.
It is reminiscent of the Oslo Opera House completed by the firm in 2008, which also featured a roof that sloped down to meet the waterfront.
"The Shanghai Grand Opera House is a natural progression of our previous work with designing performing arts centres," explained Snøhetta co-founder Kjetil Trædal Thorsen.
"The Shanghai Grand Opera House is a product of our contextual understanding and values, designed to promote public ownership of the building for the people of Shanghai and beyond."

The stepped roof will connect with a large stepped plaza, allowing it to double as a public meeting place and a stage for large-scale events.
Meanwhile the plaza, which will be open for visitor access 24 hours a day, will connect the space with the riverfront.

At the core of the building will be a 2,...