HADID’S GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE UP IN FLAMES

According to the Architect’s Journal, fire broke out in the construction site of the Guangzhou Opera House, designed by architect Zaha Hadid. A statement from Hadid’s office said: “All staff were evacuated safely with no injuries. No members of the public were involved. The fire was extinguished by the fire department in under an hour. Initial inspections confirm the structure of the building remains completely intact.” The project, which will cover an area of about five hundred thousand square feet, and has a price tag of about $150 million, was expected to open later this year as China’s third-largest theater.