UAE developer Arada has appointed Japanese architect Tadao Ando as the designer for its new performing arts centre – Il Teatro – that will play a prominent role in Sharjah’s mega lifestyle community, Aljada.

A fully fledged cultural complex spread over a 260,000-sq-ft area, the Il Teatro at Aljada and its surrounding plaza will host a wide variety of performances and shows, including opera, theatre, dance, ballet, musicals, concerts, films, art exhibitions and festivals.

As well as a 2,000-seat auditorium, Il Teatro will incorporate a gallery and boutique restaurant, stated Arada, the master developer behind Aljada.

Revealing the designs of Il Teatro’s striking structure, which will anchor the community’s Naseej cultural district, Arada said the design for Il Teatro consists of a pure, cylindrical concrete mass, which faces a multi-layered cultural plaza.

Featuring Tadao Ando’s trademark architectural simplicity, the culture centre’s design will boast a dramatic secondary feature; a large, arched opening that enlivens the front of the building, forming a strong connection between its interior and exterior.

 Il Teatro occupies a prime position within Aljada, situated on the main access road into the master community. It also sits at the centre of the Naseej creative district, a cluster of 19 buildings that also incorporates the Vida Aljada hotel and branded apartments complex, which will be operated by Emaar Hospitality.