Kosovo has recently been investing heavily in culture, building its identity through art and music. The country is dynamically developing its arts scene, and the new Opera and Ballet Theatre in Pristina will become a symbol of this process. The striking building, designed by Danish studio BIG in collaboration with ALB-Architect, will not only be a modern performing arts centre, but also an expression of the Republic of Kosovo’s rich heritage and creative future.
Designed by BIG in collaboration with ALB-Architect, the Kosovo Opera and Ballet Theatre in Pristina will house four performance halls and a new public square. As the first opera house in the Republic of Kosovo, the building will become a symbol of the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, while reflecting the city’s new identity, rooted in creativity and commitment to the arts. The ambitious project, commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Kosovo (MKRS), will become the new home of the Kosovo Philharmonic, ballet and opera. The building will include a concert hall with a capacity of 1,200 people, a theatre hall with 1,000 seats, a chamber hall for 300 audiences, a theatre room and an education and conference centre. The facility will be located close to the Palace of Youth and Sports, Fadil Vokrri Stadium and the Ministry of Public Services, creating a new cultural complex in the heart of the city.
“As one of the crowning achievements of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo in recent years, the winning project is a masterpiece that elevates our capital, Pristina, on the world map of architecture and culture. This building will become the home of at least four institutions of particular importance to our cultural ecosystem, while also demonstrating the Republic’s commitment to the culture of Kosovo,” – says Hajrulla Çeku, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of the Republic of Kosovo.
BIG proposes a simple and functional layout for the auditorium, surrounded by an undulating façade covered with photovoltaic tiles. The form of the building refers to the free-form shapes of the stage costumes and the traditional bell-shaped Xhublet skirt worn by women in Kosovo. The central location of the theatre provides convenient pedestrian access both at street level and from the higher podium level of the Palace of Youth and Sports. The existing platform will be extended and seamlessly connected to the theatre’s external staircase, creating a vibrant public square. The theatre’s undulating form naturally delineates entrances and key spaces, leading visitors to a central hall, open on all sides. The hall will be filled with natural light coming in through a central skylight, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The unified interior aesthetic of the performance spaces incorporates curved wooden elements that give the interior a sculptural feel while maintaining functionality. The main concert hall offers intimate zones for optimal views of the stage, while the three-level theatre hall combines monumentality and intimacy, complemented by a full-size stage suspension system and concealed technical bridges. The theatre hall and the elegant chamber hall will provide additional opportunities for various forms of artistic expression. All performance spaces will feature a matte wood finish, contrasting with deep velvet upholstery and acoustic curtains tailored to each room. The building is surrounded by natural stone paving and a series of green islands and meandering paths. The islands will be planted with a variety of vegetation, including beech trees, which will support biodiversity, provide seasonal landscape changes and offer shade.
Kosovo Opera and Ballet Theatre – information
Project: BIG Studio
Lead partners: Bjarke Ingels, Andreas Klok Pedersen, Andy Young
Project manager and chief designer: Mike Yue Yin
Team: Ania Podlaszewska, Masha Tatalovic, Jasmine Yang, Enija Skeltona
Area: 42,395 sq m
Location: Pristina, Republic of Kosovo
Client: Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MKRS) – Government of Kosovo
Contributors: ALB-Architect, Charcoalblue, bloomimages, bucharest.studio, IMIGO
Read also: City | Culture | Art | Architecture | whiteMAD on Instagram
