Next year, the Sydney Opera House turns 50.
This was an architectural icon 14 years in the making – rattling through 10,000 construction workers, $102 million, and forcing the resignation of its celebrated architect, Jørn Utzon (who was later reinstated). It was a project fraught with dramas and challenges.
Yet half a century on, the timelessness of this iconic theatre just goes to show that sometimes, investment, time and complexity can be worth it.
Today the Opera House stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is perhaps one of the most recognisable buildings in the world. For nearly 50 years, it has occupied the global consciousness as a symbol of Sydney; of Australia – and with its graceful sails and grand glass foyers, what better mascot could a city wish for?
For Sydney, its Opera House is not just a beacon for culture or architecture: it is also an emblem of identity.
