The iconic Sydney Opera House with its bellowing sails, sweeping lines, graceful curves and elegant fixtures is one of the most recogniable buildings in the world. It is an architectural masterpiece. Situated at Bennelong Point, a small peninsual on Sydney Harbour, its roof-line is meant to symbolise the bellowing "sails" of ships of a bygone era and the spinnakers of the racing yachts that ply the harbour today. It is a multi-venue performing arts centre with concerts halls, theaters and a number of smaller studios and special purpose rooms.
• An international contest was held for a design of the building and 233 entries were received. The design by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, who was only 38 years old at the time won the contract.
• Construction work on the Sydney Opera House commenced in 1959. It was expected to take 4 years to build, but took 14 years. It was finally completed in 1973. The building was officially opend by Qeeen Elizabeth II on 20th October 1973.
• The building was expected to cost only $7 million but cost over $102 million be the time it was completed. The cost of the building was largely funded by a State lottery.
• The site covers 1.8 hectares (4.5 acres). The opera house building is 185 metres (611 feet) long, 120 metres (380 feet) wide and the tip of its highest arch is 67 metres (221 feet) above sea level.
• The roofs are made up of 2,194 pre-cast concert sections held together by 350 kilometres (217 miles) of steel cable.
The roofs of the buildings are covered with over 1,056,000 glazed tiles.
The exposed concert superstructure supporting the upper floors gracefully form the ceiling of a lower floor.
Forrm and function permeate this concert hall with the acostic ceiling with built-in airconditioning ducts creating a stunning form of their own.
Having being build on a peninsual on the Sydney Habour the view of the Opera House as stunning. Here we see the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
A bench in a public foyer.