Shanghai's new Grand Opera House is designed to be more than a performance venue. Its Red Hall features a six-part, bi-directional stage system and one of the largest stage spaces in Asia, giving major productions more room for both performance and preparation. At the heart of the building is a double spiral staircase, part of an architectural concept inspired by a Chinese fan and the image of a dancer spinning with her skirt — a design meant to echo the movement, drama and energy of the stage.