Page 81 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sydney

SY DNEY OPER A HOUSE  79

The Design of the Opera House

In 1957, Jørn Utzon won the international competition to design the Sydney Opera
House. He envisaged a living sculpture that could be viewed from any angle – land,
air or sea – with the roofs as a “fifth façade”. It was boldly conceived, posing architectural
and engineering problems that Utzon’s initial compendium of sketches did not begin
to solve. When construction began in 1959, the intricate design proved impossible to
execute and had to be greatly modified. The project remained so controversial that
Utzon resigned in 1966 and an Aust ralian design team completed the building’s interior.
In 1999, Utzon agreed to be involved in guiding future changes to the building. Since
Utzon’s death in 2008, his son Jan has taken on this role.

Segmented globe Segments separated
Several pieces cut
out of a globe were
The Red Book, as submitted for the 1957 design used in an ingenious
competition, contains Utzon’s original concept manner by architect
sketches for the Sydney Opera House.
Jørn Utzon to make up
the now familiar shell
Roof comes into view roof structure.
Utzon’s Opera House Model
Shell membrane roof
Utzon visualized a
building that “floated” The construction
The northern foyers on water. materials remain
overlook Sydney Harbour. clearly exposed.

Stepped base

Utzon’s original interiors
and many of his design
features now exist only in
model form. The architect
donated his models and
2009 A State plans to the State Library
memorial service is of NSW (see p114).
held in the Concert
Hall following
Utzon’s death
The pre-cast roof has its
inspiration in nature. The
2010 basic idea for the formwork
of the roof was taken from The roof tiles were not
2007 Opera House
becomes the youngest the fanlike ribs of a palm. fixed in place individually,
building to achieve Realizing this deceptively but installed in panels to
UNESCO World Heritage simple idea took Utzon six create the smooth and
status as a site of major years of design work. continuous roof surface.
cultural significance

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