Overview

The Sydney Opera House is a performing-arts complex on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour. Designed by the Danish architect Jørn Utzon, it was begun in 1959 and opened in 1973.

Description

Its defining feature is a series of shell- or sail-like roofs clad in white tiles, a bold form hard to build with the technology of the day. Inside are a concert hall and an opera theatre, among other venues.

History and legacy

Construction ran far over cost and time, and Utzon left in 1966 after disputes, never seeing it finished. Today the building is a symbol of Australia and was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2007.