THE PRIDE OF SYDNEY

The Sydney Opera House in Australia is widely regarded as one of the worlds most famous postWorld War II pieces of architecture. This legacy of Danish-born architect, Jorn Urzon, was amazing when it was erected in the late 50s and, even today, it remains a landmark design of pure poetry that was declared a World Heritage Site in 2007, 50 years after Urzon wowed the world with it. It has now become the signpost of the south and is nestled on three sides by the waters of the Sydney Harbour and adjacent to the arched Sydney Harbour Bridge. Its beauty, however, emanates from its stark contrast to the humdrum city office blocks in downtown Sydney. But it is Urzons inspired architecture that continues to startle. The Opera House comprises a massive concrete podium protruding three sides beyond the land to give the impression that the whole building is squatting on water. The whole design is then punctuated by three sets of concrete reflective and matte shells for roofs. At night, this iconic design is a dynamic structure, reflecting [under lights] and contributing to the ever-changing interplay of light, water, ferries, yachts and traffic. Indeed, the play of light on the shells makes the Sydney Opera House appear like its alive and moving, almost like a ship at full sail, while the dramatic silhouette makes the shells appear like theyre inside each other. Sadly, Urzon, who died in 2008 aged 90, saw his original design modified when a disagreement [over escalating costs of building it] with the Australian government forced him to withdraw from the project after nine years. It took another seven years before it was completed in 1973 at a cost of $102 million. But after more than 30 years, in 2003, Urzon was called to re-work the interior design as he had envisioned it in his original designs. The Opera houses the main podium containing dressing and rehearsal rooms, minor theatres and two major theatres and a restaurant. The main concert hall seats 2690 people while the smaller Opera Theatre seats 1547 people. The Sydney Opera House is to Australia what the Eiffel Tower is to France, the Colosseum is to Rome, the pyramids are to Egypt and the KICC is to Kenya.