Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta has revealed design for a new opera house featuring a pair of iconic dancing towers in the heart of Düsseldorf city center, Germany.

Dubbed Duett Düsseldorf, Snøhetta was commissioned by CENTRUM GROUP to propose a new opera house and cultural hub for the city. The new complex, offering a generous public roof garden, the building is aimed to be a world-class opera house by creating clear connections to the nearby Hofgarten park, the Rhein river and the popular Königsallee street.

Duett Düsseldorf will create a publicly accessible space that brings people together with its transparent base that exposes itself

Replacing the existing one on Heinrich-Heine-Allee 16A, as the current floor plan is not suited to facilitate a well-functioning opera house at an international level, the new building will be a state-of-the-art opera house, including a hotel, restaurants and cafés, office spaces and residential units. 

“The project aims to create a shared cultural epicenter for the people of Düsseldorf,” said Snøhetta.

Snøhetta’s proposal suggests a 1,350-square-metre expansion to the North for a fully integrated side stage and enough space for back-of-house functions and additional program, and a 1,455-square-metre expansion to the East to facilitate a larger foyer