nomination by the Government of Australia - Sydney Opera House

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Part 2. Description
2.19
Further detail concerning the Sydney Opera House
A comprehensive description and evaluation of the
Sydney Opera House complex and its elements,
including their level of heritage signifi cance, are outlined
in James Semple Kerr’s Sydney Opera House: a plan
for the conservation of the Sydney Opera House and
its site (referred to as ‘the Conservation Plan (SOH)’ in
this nomination). A virtual tour of the Sydney Opera
House is available on its web site at .
Additional information on the elements of the Sydney
Opera House that represent some variations to Utzon’s
original design concept (such as the glass walls and
the interiors) is given in the Conservation Plan (SOH)
and in Part 3.D. The Conservation Plan (SOH) and the
virtual tour (CD format) are provided as accompanying
documentation to this nomination.
2.20 2.21
Figure 2.19 Utzon’s original competition drawing of the east
elevation, 1956
Figure 2.20 Utzon’s original competition drawing of the
north elevation, 1956
2.B HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT
The history of the Sydney Opera House is as
extraordinary and complex as the building. It is a
story of vision, courage, belief, dedication, challenge,
controversy and triumph. Its many remarkable
elements include the submission of a visionary design
that the judges courageously selected as winner; the
collaborative partnership of architect and engineer that
triumphed over enormous odds to produce a solution
to the construction of the shells that was as groundbreaking
as the design was ingenious; the breach
created by Utzon’s departure from the project in 1966
in the face of controversial cost and time overruns;
and Utzon’s re-engagement with his project three
decades later to oversee future changes to the Sydney
Opera House.
Figure 2.21 Utzon’s competition drawing of the podium
looking towards the major and minor halls, 1956