ConstructMyFuture.com | Students - Cool Stuff -- Top Ten Construction Projects: Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Its sea-shell shape mimics the surroundings with purpose. The roof line of the Sydney Opera House mirrors the images of ship sails in the harbor, the ocean's waves, and the obvious choice: sea shells. Its proposed position on Bennelong Point led Danish architect Joern Utzon to design a building aesthetically pleasing from any angle - land, sea, or sky. His 1957 concept included the roof line as a "fifth-façade", making the building more like a free-standing sculpture than any of Sydney's surrounding buildings. Chosen from 222 other submissions, Utzon's design was selected for its economy, creativity, and revolutionary style. For these reasons, the Sydney Opera House is recognized as one of the world's most distinctive architectural designs and dominates not only the harbor but also the entire Sydney skyline.

Utzon's original design was found impossible to build structurally, so the roof line shells were reconfigured while the first stage of construction commenced in 1959. Stage two, including the newly-engineered shells, began in 1962 and was not completed until 1967. Utzon resigned from the project in 1966, after numerous disagreements with the New South Wales Government. The final stage, comprised mainly of finishing the interior, was completed with materials not specified by Utzon in order to save construction costs. Fourteen years in the making, the Sydney Opera House was opened on October 23, 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II and celebrated its 25th Birthday in October, 1998.

The Sydney Opera House is one of the busiest arts centers in the World. Inside there are four venues - the Opera Theater, the Concert Hall, the Drama Theater and the Playhouse. The Forecourt is used for many spectacular outdoor public performances. In March, 1999 a fifth venue will open, providing an intimate space for musical ensembles and smaller theater and dance works. This new venue is located directly beneath the Concert Hall. The Sydney Opera House also contains four popular restaurants and many function spaces - all with breathtaking views.

The Concert Hall is the largest venue, providing seating for 2,679 people, and possesses a 26,400 cubic meter volume. The Concert Hall is admired for its rich acoustics, aided by the two-second reverberation time. Above the stage, 18 adjustable polymer rings are supported. These rings, or "clouds," are designed to assist the musicians by reflecting some sound back to the stage platform. The Concert Hall Grand Organ was designed by an Australian musician, took 10 years to build, and is the largest mechanical tracker organ in the world with its 10,500 pipes.