Now a building 'you want to touch' in Dubai

Who can take eyes off from unique urban structures here in Dubai? It's difficult, right?
Now, the emirate offers a building that you will feel like touching, not just seeing.
The Dubai Opera, inspired by the traditional dhow, the centrepiece of the Opera District in Downtown Dubai, is all set for its opening next Wednesday.
With the opening of Dubai Opera slated to be on August 31 night, there is much excitement in the design industry over the first day of the iconic building.
Rue Kothari, director of Downtown Design fair (the region's only international design fair), said: "Cultural spaces are crucial to the identity of a city. I am not alone in eagerly anticipating the launch of the Dubai Opera and hope it beckons a new evolution in Dubai's urban development."
Danish architect Janus Rostock completed Dubai Opera, the latest entrante to Dubai's cultural scene in three years.
The Danish architect, who was part of Nakheel's Dubai Promendade, had a team of 100 designers and engineers led by the British listed company Atkins to bring an 'opera house' to Dubai.
"The dhow has historically been Dubai's cultural carrier. This was an introvert city but now it is becoming an extrovert city, and the Opera District is very much part of this new thinking." The landmark structure is expected to be a building that gains international attention and follow in the footstep of other modern day Opera houses such as Sydney and the Guangzhou Opera House.
Dubai Opera is a very modern yet warm building thanks to the use of steel and glass in the exterior and wood in the inside.
"It is a building you want to touch," said Rostock, who is very excited to be attending the opening night when world famous Spanish tenor and conductor Placido Domingo will perform.
What can you expect in Dubai Opera
With 360 degree lobby and rooftop restaurants, Dubai Opera is spanned across 35,000 square metres and has a multipurpose venue. It can accommodate 1,176 for banquet to large conferences.
The stage have a unique flexible floor plan. Rostock has used shading and other techniques to engineer the district in a climate-friendly manner.
"Whatever the use, it will have the luxury feel of an Opera House."
"This is a cultural district, it is an alternative destination to a mall and that cannot be just about coffee shops," the architect said, adding you need not to go to the Opera to enjoy this district.
There are 21 dressing rooms, with seating of 1,901 for concerts `and a theatre capacity of 1,875.
The chandelier in Dubai Opera weighs 5,000kg which contains 2,900 LEDs and 600 lighting fixtures, including the chandelier.
sujata@khaleejtimes.com