THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE SPACE

The Royal Opera House Muscat was won in an international design competition. WATG made the short list through work on the Emirates Palace in UAE, which contained a theatre.. The ambitious competition brief set by the theatre consultants had at its heart an adaptable auditorium that could transform the opera house to a concert hall with a large moving stage. The challenge was to make this technology work in a building that would sound perfect as a natural acoustic chamber and have a particular iconic look. The acoustic chamber was designed to be adaptable through changeable volumes and absorption. The building plan was heavily influenced by the works of Louis Kahn which Tom had studied in depth at university. The look was heavily influenced by elements of Omani character, blended with the Lincoln Centre NYC to create a timeless urban setting. The interior finishes were heavily influence by the Royal Court Affairs in Oman and using their talented interior designer Mohamed Jal on the design team. The urban setting was also influenced by Toms conceptual work on the Emirates Palace which gives the building a certain grandeur in arrival.