Sitting on Benelong Point in Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Opera House is one of the icons of twentieth century architecture. After winning an international competition for the design of the building, Danish architect Jørn Utzon supervised the completion of the first two stages of the project; the podium and the concrete shells.
After years of experimentation, much of it in conjunction with the innovative Sydney plywood manufacturer, Ralph Symonds Ltd, Utzon was finalising the design for the interiors of the building when, after considerable controversy, he resigned in 1966.
A change in brief and a more conservative structural approach resulted in a different design. The rich and extensive timber interiors, contrasting with the heavy concrete masonry of the exterior, remain however an exemplary example of the use of plywood and laminated hardwood in a public building.
This section contains the following resource:
- Sydney Opera House - New South Wales
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