The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour in New South Wales, Australia, occupying Bennelong Point between Sydney Cove and Farm Cove. Designed by the Danish architect Jorn Utzon, who won an international design competition in 1957, and completed by an Australian architectural team led by Peter Hall after Utzon left the project, the building was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973. Widely regarded as one of the world's most distinctive buildings and a masterpiece of twentieth-century architecture, it hosts more than 1,800 performances a year and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
Facts
Year Created LocationBennelong Point, Sydney Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 1 Architectural Style Structural SystemPrecast concrete shell roof (a series of shells, each a section of a 75.2-metre-radius sphere) set on a podium 1 Commissioned ByGovernment of New South Wales 1 Construction Height (metres) UNESCO Inscription Year Current UseMulti-venue performing arts centre hosting over 1,800 performances annually 1 Visitor AccessMore than ten million visitors annually; about 350,000 take a guided tour each year 1 Connections
In Form
Modern expressionist-shell performing arts building.
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Australia, located there.
Sources
1. Sydney Opera House - Wikipedia
WikipediaLead section, second paragraph, sentence on government authorisation
The Government of New South Wales, led by the premier, Joseph Cahill, authorised work to begin in 1958 with Utzon directing construction.
Lead section, second paragraph, sentence on the 1973 opening
the building was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973, 16 years after Utzon's 1957 selection as winner of an international design competition.
Lead section, final paragraph, sentence on UNESCO listing
In 2007, the Sydney Opera House became a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Lead section, third paragraph, sentence on the site location
occupy the whole of Bennelong Point on Sydney Harbour, between Sydney Cove and Farm Cove
Description section, opening sentence on the shell roof design
The facility features a modern expressionist design, with a series of large precast concrete "shells", each composed of sections of a sphere of 75.2 metres (246 ft 8.6 in) radius, forming the roofs of the structure, set on a monumental podium.
Description section, sentence on roof height
The highest roof point is 67 metres above sea-level which is the same height as that of a 22-storey building.
Lead section, fourth paragraph, sentence on performance volume
The building comprises multiple performance venues, which together host over 1,800 performances annually, attended by more than 1.4 million people.
Lead section, fourth paragraph, sentence on visitor numbers and guided tours
the site is visited by more than ten million people annually, and approximately 350,000 visitors take a guided tour of the building each year.
Genre reference
Designed by the Danish architect Jorn Utzon, who won an international design competition in 1957, and completed by an Australian architectural team led by Peter Hall after Utzon left the project, the building was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973.
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.