Sydney Opera House is an art center in Sydney city, Australia, located on Port Jackson, New South Wales. Danish architect Jorn Utzon made a design in 1957 – 1973. In 2003, for the project of Sydney’s Opera House, Jorn Utzon got the highest international architecture's honor – Pritzker Prize.
In 1956 the government of New South Wales announced an open international design competition. For this competition a special independent jury was called. Broad specifications were provided by a competition brief, a cost limit and design parameters were not specified because the main purpose was to attract the most talented designers. The most important requirement of the competition was two designs – for the opera and symphony concerts (Perez, AD Classics: Sydney Opera House / Jørn Utzon). More than two hundred designs from 32 countries were submitted by best architects among who were already famous architects and designers. That’s why Jorn Utzon’s wining was not expected. It wasn’t the first time he won a competition, but it was his first public project.
In March of 1959 the construction was begun. The project consisted of three stages: foundation of podium and its building with Sydney Harbor’s view, construction of external shells and interior construction. Utzon had not done the design project, when the podium construction was already begun. That is why the famed firm of engineers Ove Arup&Partners oversaw it. Despite that the construction was begun quickly and the architects didn’t face any unresolved structural problems, in 1963, when the building was made, they rebuilt and modified some podium details to help it to hold a weight of huge concrete structures, which were supported by the podium (Perez, AD Classics: Sydney Opera House / Jørn Utzon).
Between 1957 – 1963, when the podium construction was in the process of its building, Arup and Utzon were working on inventing the shell system which could make a structure of original spherical plan possible. The most difficult task to attempt was a construction of shells. The architect’s revolutionary concept needed a revolutionary building and engineering techniques (Sydney Opera House History). They had had twelve attempts before founding a solution – a ribby system of precast shells made of concrete which were formed from a sphere sections. Each rib was made of a several standard cast segments in common molds at site. The shells were supposed to look like big white sails because Utzon wanted them to be contrasted to the ocean’s blue water, where it was stood upon. More than million ceramic tiles, which were made from crushed stones and clay in Sweden, covered the shells for achieving the planned aesthetic. It took about eleven years for placing all tiles and creating the iconic structure of the roof (Perez, AD Classics: Sydney Opera House / Jørn Utzon).
In February, 1966 Jorn Utzon decided to resign from the project. The reason was a battle between the NSW government and the designer because of the rising costs of a construction as the shells were almost done. Even though there was a protest for reinstatement of Utzon, the NSW government decided to appoint to finish the project such Australian architect as Lionel Todd, Peter Hall and DS Littlmore. The second part was completed in 1967 after installing 2,194 th precast segment of the shells.
When the newly hired architects started working on the final stage, they significantly changed the design which was made by Utzon. Originally the main hall was designed as an opera with several purposes of its using. But after Australian Broadcasting Commission’s request they changed the hall to a space only for concerts, and titled as Concert Hall, and it can accommodate about 2800 people. Such decision was made because symphony concerts had more popularity and had bigger audience than opera at that time (Sydney Opera House History).
Originally a minor hall intended for the stage production, but it became house of ballet and opera, and got the name of Opera Theatre. Big outer ladder lead into main auditoriums, an entrance was marked so that visitors were hardly to forget. But Opera Theatre has been considered as too small for staging large ballet and opera productions. Also to the Utzon’s design were added three theatres but smaller, a cinema, a library, six bars, three restaurants, sixty rooms for dressing. In total there are 1000 rooms which have an access through the concourse which surrounds the whole building and connects 5 performance spaces.
New architects also made a design of large outer glass walls. The glass walls stand due to vertical mullions made of the steel, which extend to the entrance of shells. Ove Arup&Partners designed glazing bars made of bronze which run from the mullions for supporting 2000 glass panes, which are consisted of two glass layers joined by a plastic interlayer for strengthening windows and providing better insulation of the sound.
Opera House was completed In 1973. The opening of the building was in October, and Queen of Australia Elizabeth II took a part in it. Jorn Utzon wasn’t invited to the opening ceremony. His name was not even mentioned in speeches of any participant. He was recognized later when the interior of Opera House needed updates.
In 1999 Utzon was asked to start working at developing of a design principles set that would be a guide for future changes. The first significant project of Utzon was the remaking of the Reception Hall in to an impressive, full of the light space which spotlight the original specific “beams” and the wall-length gobelin which is designed by him and hangs opposite a Sydney Harbor view. In 2004 the Reception Hall was named in the architect honor the Utzon Room. It is noted for an incredible acoustic and it is the only space at Opera House which is authentically designed by Utzon (Sydney Opera House History).
The political issues, cause of which the architect decided to resign, became the reason why Utzon did not return to Australia. Jorn Utzon never saw the completed building of Opera House in Sydney, his masterwork of technologies and architecture of the world during the XX century. This building is among the best and greatest buildings ever created. In 2007 the building was put in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site (Perez, AD Classics: Sydney Opera House / Jørn Utzon).
Sydney Opera House is a masterwork of a modern architecture of XX century. There is no such analogue existed. It is esteemed by the people by not only from Australia but around the entire world. It portraits the unique architectural vision and embodies the best of the architecture of the XX century - radical innovative construction and design, the organic solution of landscape tasks. Jorn Utzon understood and recognized the potential which provides a site against the beautiful view of Sydney Harbour. Sydney’s Opera House was a challenging piece of city sculpture covered by decorated tiles, shining in the sunlight and glowing at night. All parts played together in a rich variation of shapes. Opera House of Sydney is an important center of performing arts. It has a reputation of world-class performing art center and has become an emblem of Sydney city and the Australian nation.
Work cited
Perez, Adelyn. "AD Classics: Sydney Opera House / Jørn Utzon." Archdaily.com. 23 June 2010. Web.
Sydney Opera House. Utzon design principles. PDF file.
"Sydney Opera House History." Sydneyoperahouse.com. Web.
