What is special about the Sydney Opera House?

The Sydney Opera House is among the busiest performing arts centers in the world. Every year, the Sydney Opera House has approximately 4 million visitors, 1.5 million patrons, and hosts up to 2500 performances and events. What makes it so special? This structural masterpiece has had an enduring influence on late 20th-century architecture by pushing engineering and architecture to new limits. The structure consists of three groups of interlocking vaulted ‘shells’ set upon a vast terraced platform and surrounded by terrace areas that function as pedestrian concourses.
 
“Sydney Opera House stands by itself as one of the indisputable masterpieces of human creativity, not only in the 20th century but in the history of humankind”
-    International Council Report on Monuments and Sites to the World Heritage Committee
 
“Its significance is based on its unparalleled design and construction”
“It is a daring and visionary experiment that has had an enduring influence on the emergent architecture of the late 20th century.”
-   UNESCO

 
Is Sydney Opera House a wonder of the world?

The Sydney Opera House was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list in the summer of 2007. This placed the Opera House as one of the most outstanding buildings on earth alongside the Taj Mahal, the ancient Pyramids of Egypt, and the Great Wall of China. The brilliant architect behind the design of the Sydney Opera House, Jorn Utzon, was further commemorated when his designs earned the title of being one of the only two cultural sites to be listed during his lifetime.

 
Building the Sydney Opera House

Construction on the Sydney Opera House began on March 2nd, 1959. The project was divided into three stages; stage I (1959-1963) consisted of building the upper podium, stage II (1963-1967) consisted of building the outer shells, and stage III (1967-1973) consisted of the interior design and construction.

Stage I – Podium

Before the construction of The Opera House began, the site had to be cleared and prepped using some of the most recognizable and effective heavy equipment: rock trucks. While they were working on clearing the site and building stage one, the engineers encountered a major obstacle: the ground had not been properly surveyed before construction began. They discovered that the weight of the intended structure would not be suitable for the land as the ground was made up of loose soil deposits, rather than sandstone, which was their initial assumption. To accommodate these different site conditions, about 700 steel-cased concrete shafts, nearly 1 meter each in diameter, were tunneled down by excavators into the perimeter and northern half of the site to create a solid foundation they could build upon. In the central area of the site, mass concrete foundations filled in the unstable rock. 

A second major issue faced by the engineers of this project was the roof. At this point in the project, the weight of the roof was still unknown – leaving the load the anchor points of the roof had to bear, a giant question mark. It was later determined that the podium columns were not strong enough to support the roof structure and they had to be re-built.

 
Stage II – Roof

 
There was much debate around how to construct the shells that were designed to be a series of parabolas supported by precast-concrete ribs. Before finally finding a workable solution to constructing these shells, at least 12 iterations of the form of the shells were tested by the design team to finally have a successful outcome. To gain a better understanding of the complex forces to which the shells would be subjected, the design team used computers, which is noted as one of the earliest uses of computers in structural analysis.

To build the roof, the contractors manufactured 2,400 precast ribs, 4,000 roof panels in an on-site factory, and developed the construction processes. The construction of the shells used an innovative adjustable steel-trussed arch to support the different roofs before completion.

Stage III – Interiors

During the second stage of construction, Utzon resigned from the project and his role was principally taken over by Peter Hall, who became largely responsible for the interior design of the project. A few changes were made to the design after Utzon resigned. Firstly, the podium was originally intended to be left open, rather than mealled down. However, changes were made to the podium and the paving was added to ensure it was secure. Secondly, the glass walls were originally intended to be constructed using a system of prefabricated plywood mullions, but a different system was designed to deal with the glass. Furthermore, the major hall which was intended to be a multipurpose opera and concert hall became solely a concert hall. The minor hall, originally for stage purposes only, now included the use of an opera hall. Additionally, two more theaters were added to the design. Finally, Utzon’s original vision to include plywood corridor designs, and his acoustic and seating designs, were completely scrapped from the project.
 

How much did it cost to build the Sydney Opera House?

Despite estimating the cost of the project would be $7 million, after completing the project, the total cost came to $102 million! Also, while the original date of completion set by the government was January 26, 1963, The Opera House was not formally opened until 1973, a full 10 years after its intended date. The Opera House’s official opening was attended by Queen Elizabeth II, on October 20, 1973.

How many workers died building the Sydney Opera House? 

Over the course of the 14 years and the 10,000 construction workers it took to complete the project, there was no report of any worker deaths as a result of building the Sydney Opera House.

Can I go to the Sydney Opera House?

The Sydney Opera House is open to visitors 363 days a year, only closing on December 25th and Easter Sunday. Nearly every day the bars and restaurants are open, and tours, events, and shows are available. Visitors are free to visit the building at any time by walking along the water from Circular Quay, and walking the entirety of the loop which only takes 10 minutes. Visitors can also explore the inside foyer, but to have a deeper look at the building you must book a tour or book a show.