VIDEO New King Abdullah II House of Culture & Art revealed

The new King Abdullah II House of Culture & Art in Amman, Jordan, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), has been announced.

Images and a walk-around animation of the new arts venue were also unveiled at a ceremony to mark the signing of the design contract.

The new arts venue will be a performing arts and cultural centre that includes a 1600-seat concert theatre, 400-seat theatre, educational centre, rehearsal rooms, and galleries.

In a statement ZHA said the venue was, "Conceived as a place to rehearse, discuss, teach, study and perform, [it] will be the premiere venue for theatre, music and dance performance and education in Jordan [and] a vital element in the cultural life of the city and country, bringing together all members of the community in the shared experience of art and music."

The design for the new arts centre was inspired by "the magnificent ancient city of Petra", said Ms Hadid.

"Petra is an astonishing example of the wonderful interplay between architecture and nature, as well as the intricate complexity and elegance of natural forms - the rose-colored mountain walls have been eroded, carved and polished to reveal the astonishing strata of sedimentation.

"We have applied these principles to articulate the public spaces within the centre, with eroded interior surfaces that extend into the public plaza in front of the building."

Construction works are scheduled to begin in early 2012.

ZHA won the project following a competition June 2008, which included Snøhetta (Norway), Atelier Christian de Portzamparc (France), Delugan Meissl (Austria), Henning Larsens Tegnestue (Denmark) and Kerry Hill Architects (Singapore).

Project information:

• Program: Concert theatre: 1600 seat, Small theatre: 400 seat, Educational Centre and Galleries
• Cliente: The Greater Amman Municipality
• Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
• Design: Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher
• Project Director: Charles Walker
• Project Architect: Tariq Khayyat
• Competition Team: Maria Araya, Melike Altinisik, Dominiki Dadatsi, Renata Dantas,Sylvia Georgiadou,Britta Knobel, Rashiq Muhamadali, Bence Pap, Eleni Pavlidou, Daniel Santos, Daniel Widrig, Sevil Yazici.
• Structural Consultants: Dar Al-Handasah, Beirut-Cairo
• Mechanical& Environmental Consultants: Dar Al-Handasah, Beirut-Cairo
• Theatre & Acoustics consultant : Artec Consultants Inc, New York
• Façade Engineers : Ramboll, London
• Lighting Consultants: OVI, New York