UIA - Sydney Opera House Special Edition

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SPECIAL EDITION

22 OCTOBER 2018

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE - 45TH ANNIVERSARY

Saturday 20th October was the 45th anniversary of one of the world’s most iconic buildings: the Sydney Opera House. The result of a UIA-endorsed competition in 1956, the Sydney Opera House has since become the youngest UNESCO World Heritage Site and today plays host to 11 million visitors a year. Constructed by about 10, 000 workers from 90 different countries, it is a building that epitomises diversity. Now at the mid-point of its 10-year renewal programme, the Opera House has achieved accessibility for all and a 75% cut in power consumption. The UIA pays its own tribute to this flagship UIA competition winner with a series of interviews and statements from people whose lives are entwined with it. Happy birthday, Sydney Opera House.

CLOVER MOORE - LORD MAYOR OF SYDNEY

The Sydney Opera House is an architectural masterpiece because it was just right for its harbour setting, its globally recognisable sails and iconic profile and it was so different from anything being produced at the time in 1960s Sydney.

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LOUISE HERRON - CEO SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

The Opera House is the symbol of modern Australia. I think it summarizes the bold, daring, can-do approach of Australians. It has changed the face of the nation. As stated in our UNESCO World Heritage status, it is quite simply a work of human genius.

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ALAN CROKER -​​​​​​​ SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE HERITAGE ARCHITECT

Utzon has created a building that not only houses and presents the performing arts, but is a sculptural and architectural performance in its own right. It is now the responsibility of all those involved in the Opera House to nurture and safeguard Utzon’s design for generations to come.

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PETER MOULD - EMINENT ARCHITECTS PANEL MEMBER

Sydney Opera House resonates with many references from other cultures... Jørn Utzon neither copies nor delivers a pastiche of decorative elements from these cultures, but instead shows a clear understanding of the principles that were inherent in them.

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LOUISE COX - FORMER UIA PRESIDENT

The Sydney Opera House is part of my life, sitting serenely on Bennelong Point, designed to be visible on all sides, even from the air. With its amazing design, it provides a magical, uplifting experience for anyone who encounters it. It is a wonderful building that welcomes the world to Sydney.

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The UIA is a non-governmental organisation recognized by UNESCO as the only architectural union operating at an international level. The UIA offers its expertise as a consultant for international architecture competitions, the likes of which have resulted in The Sydney Opera House, The Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris, the Tokyo International Forum, and the Alexandria Library in Egypt.

UIA - INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ARCHITECTS

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Website: www.uia-architectes.org