The ‘most radical building in Britain’ was once planned for Cardiff – before it was rejected and transformed a city in China

Plans for the Cardiff Bay Opera House, designed by Zaha Hadid, were rejected due to financial risks in the 1990s. The proposed building faced political opposition and was never constructed. Hadid’s innovative design later inspired the Guangzhou Opera House in China. Despite the setback, Hadid’s influential work continues to be celebrated globally.