Formation of Opera and Ballet Theatre on Oktyabrsky Island

Render of the Bolshoi Theatre branch – Opera and Ballet Theatre in Kaliningrad

On 17 March (by the Julian Calendar) 1776 Prince Petr Vasilievich Urusov, Governmental Procurator, received the supreme permission from Empress Catherine II "to escot... performances of all kinds, as well as concerts, voxals and masquerades." This date became the birthday of the State Academic Grand Theatre (Bolshoi) in Russia.

The history, architecture, interiors, decorations, world-famous ballet dancers, vocalists, conductors and composers, legendary Bolshoi Theatre performances - all this is the greatest cultural treasure and pride of our country. To visit it is the dream of every guest of the capital.

In the near future, famous ballets can be visited not only in Moscow - cultural and educational complexes are being built in Vladivostok, Kaliningrad, Kemerovo and the South of Russia. The task to establish four new cultural centers was set by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his 2018 Address to the Federal Assembly. It is an important project both in terms of scale and goals. Cultural and educational complexes of this kind have never been built at the same time anywhere in the world. For the first time in Russian history, four opera and ballet theatres will be opened almost simultaneously in different parts of the country.

“I would really like... these centres not to be just beautifully constructed architectural items. I want them to be centres for spiritual growth and creative community providing opportunities to our people, including children", emphasized the President.

In Kaliningrad, Opera and Ballet Theater building with a total area of 32.8 thousand square meters will be located on the Paradnaya Embankment along the Pregolya River. Architects from a leading foreign bureau worked on his image. In creating the shape of the theater building, the architects were inspired by a ballerina performing a "cou-de-pie" spin. This created the form of the main facade - a hyperboloid of rotation with a hinged console and 80 m outreach.

Construction of the Opera and Ballet Theatre.

The similar architectural concept with the console was adopted for construction of Ludwig Museum in Budapest, Hungary. However, the Hungarian project involves a support for the console, while for Kaliningrad Opera and Ballet Theatre, Russian designers who developed the detailed design documentation came up with a solution enabling the console to float in the air. In terms of its modern architecture, the building will be iconic not only in Kaliningrad, but also in the country.

The Bolshoi Theatre branch envisages 2 halls: The Great Hall is designed for 950 seats, the Small Hall has a capacity of 300 seats. The design was challenged as the construction site is located in a flood zone. A basement floor, the usual location of a storage area for the theatre's lower stage machinery, became impossible to arrange. In order to accommodate this equipment, the stage and ground level had to be raised to +12 metres, thus requiring to find a way to move all the spectators (950 people) to the 4th floor comfortably, quickly and efficiently, while maintaining atmosphere of the theatre and not turning it into a shopping mall. When designing the layout, the architects planned a theatre foyer with several levels and grand staircases doubled by escalators.

Rendering of the Opera and Ballet Theatre foyer

 

Future grand staircase and escalator

All the engineering equipment, architectural and acoustic parameters of the auditorium were defined during the desing documentation development. In the Bolshoi Theatre branch, the user's assignment is to realise a scene geometrically replicating the historical scene in Moscow. Particular requirements were established for the acoustic parameters of the hall.

The modern auditorium was designed for the comfort of every spectator, from the front row of the stalls to the side seats on the second tier of the balcony, and most importantly, its acoustics was engineered for world-class sound. A highlight of the auditorium is the transformable chandelier, consisting of dozens of luminous "glasses" on hangers, which is advantageously positioned in the hall when the audience enters, and is hidden behind the ceiling slats during the performance.

There will be a cafeteria on the parterre level with a panoramic view of the Pregolya River.

The architects sought to create a minimalist space in the building that will have an authentic look even after many years of service. Spectacular diagonal layout of the Opera and Ballet Theatre will provide its unique view from the scenery spots in the city. Roof structure will be a unique solution as it merges into amenities of the amphitheatre designed as a public space and used for various events.

All this will make theatre in Kaliningrad memorable and distinguishing for the visitors. Thus, the Bolshoi Theatre branch was designed and is built according to all modern requirements for the world's most famous theatres.

As the building is erected on an island with flooded soils, 586 bored piles with a length of 45 metres and a diameter of 1 metre, unique in the Baltics, were installed to create the foundation. 22,300 cubic metres of concrete and more than 3,500 tons of reinforcement were used to install the bored piles. The bored piles are connected together by means of a reinforced concrete structure, the pile cap. In total, it took 13.5 thousand cubic meters of the concrete to arrange monolithic pile cap with a total area of ​​12,900 square meters. Construction of the pile cap is one of the complex and critical phases. Its main function is to redistribute the load of the future building evenly among the piles, and then transfer it to the soil. Durability of the building depends reodctly on the proper arrangement of the foundation and its quality.

Construction of the Bolshoi Theatre branch – Opera and Ballet Theatre on Oktyabrsky Island, Kaliningrad

Currently, vertical structures are constructed for the monolithic load-bearing frame of the building. The level of 14.85 metres has been reached and the walls are being built up to 18.9 metres.

Since the beginning of the year, steel structures (6.5 thousand tonnes in total) for erection of 80 m console have been delivered at the construction site of the Opera and Ballet Theatre. Lightweight structures are manufactured in the region. To manufacture more complex curved structures, a large factory located in the Moscow region was engaged. The first shipment is planned for late spring. From autumn onwards, Kaliningrad residents and guests will be able to see the image of the Opera and Ballet Theatre building and observe installation of the unique facades.

Background:

Construction of cultural and educational complexes is one of the most ambitious cultural projects of our time. The objective of building four new cultural centres (Vladivostok, Kaliningrad Kemerovo, the South of Russia), was set by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in his 2018 Federal Assembly Address and detailed in the Executive Order On National Objectives and Strategic Goals of Development of the Russian Federation till 2024.

The President believes that creation of cultural and educational, as well as museum complexes will make it possible to unlock the cultural and educational potential of the regions and to create a modern cultural space throughout Russia, to change the life quality of the residents of these regional centers through art, and to make these cities particularly attractive for tourists.

Construction of the Kaliningrad facility began in 2019. The developer is National Cultural Heritage Foundation for Social and Cultural Projects (founders: the Mariinsky Theatre, the State Hermitage Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery, the Bolshoi Theatre), the general contractor is Stroytransgaz Group.