Sydney Opera House - Australia

Jorn Utzon unpacking Sydney Opera House. 

Sydney Opera House located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and was built between 1957 and 1973. It is on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour which is closed to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Is sits at the north eastern of the Sydney central business district (Sydney CBD) and surrounded by three side of the beautiful harbour, Sydney Cove, Farm Cove and Royal Botanic Gardens.

Stage 1 of construction - The Podium - takes place at Bennelong Point. 

Construction progress in 1966.

It is admired as an internationally and treasured by all of the people in Australia. It was designed and created by Danish architect Jorn Utzon. Sydney Opera House earned a lot reputation as a world-class performing arts centre and become a symbol of both Sydney and the Australian nation. Sydney Opera House was became a UNESCO WORLD HERRITAGE SITE on 28 June 2007. It made Sydney Opera House as one of the 20^th century’s most distinctive building. it has been holding over 1500 arts performances each year and loaded around 1.2 million people.

The Opera House seen from the north.

Sydney Opera House shell rib.

The characteristic roof of Sydney Opera House means as the “shells” set upon a vast terraced platform and surrounded by terrace areas that for pedestrian concourses. The roof shells were designed by Utzon in collaboration with Ove Arup and Partners with the final shape of the shells derived from the surface of a single imagined sphere. Each shell is symbolised as a pre-cast rib segments from a concrete pedestal and rising to a ridge beam. The shells are faced in glazed off-white tiles while the podium is clad in earth-toned. The very special features are the glass walls which built according Peter Hall’s design, Utzon’s successor architect.

Sydney Opera House opens in 1973.

The Concert Hall.

There are two main halls that stand side by side, which are laying from almost north to south. Concert hall is located within the western group of shells while Opera Theatre lay within the eastern group. The auditoria face south, away from the harbour with the stages located between the audiences and the city. The Forecourt is a massive open space venue from which people ascend the stairs to the podium. The Monumental Steps lead people from the Forecourt to two main venues which are nearly 100 meters wide.

 

Interior of the Concert Hall.

The Opera House from the eastern Botanic Garden view.