Opéra National de Lyon

The Opéra National de Lyon features a massive, semi-cylindrical glass barrel vault perched atop the stone shell of an eighteenth-century theater. Architect Jean Nouvel added this modern superstructure in nineteen ninety-three, doubling the building's height and creating a striking contrast between the blackened steel and the original classical facade. During the project, workers discovered the skeletal remains of the original stone arches, which Nouvel chose to expose, blending the city's historical layers with a bold, contemporary silhouette that dominates the square.