Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House, Opera house in Sydney, Australia
The complex consists of a series of interlocking shell-shaped roof structures covered with over one million Swedish ceramic tiles, rising 67 meters above sea level on Bennelong Point, while the interior contains multiple performance halls, restaurants and public spaces spread across the waterfront site.
Construction began in 1959 following an international competition won by Danish architect Jørn Utzon in 1957, who departed the project in 1966 amid disputes with government officials, after which an Australian team completed the interior work until Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the venue in 1973, with UNESCO inscribing the site as World Heritage in 2007.
The complex serves as the primary home for Opera Australia, the Australian Ballet, Sydney Theatre Company and Sydney Symphony Orchestra, presenting over 1,500 performances annually to approximately 1.2 million attendees from across the nation and internationally.
Visitors reach the site via Circular Quay using trains, ferries or buses, while the building opens daily from 9am to 5pm for self-guided exploration, with one-hour guided tours available in eight languages and performance tickets ranging from 40 to several hundred dollars depending on the event and seating.
Utzon discovered the geometric solution for the shells in 1961 when he realized all segments could come from a single sphere with a 75-meter radius. This insight allowed the production of 2194 identical precast concrete ribs and resolved the structural problem that had blocked progress for years.
Location: City of Sydney
Inception: 1973
Architects: Jørn Utzon, Peter Hall
Official opening: October 20, 1973
Architectural style: expressionist architecture
Capacity: 5738
Elevation above the sea: 15 m
Height: 67 m
Accessibility: Dostępne dla wózków inwalidzkich
Address: 2 Circular Quay East, Sydney NSW
Phone: +61292507111
Website: https://sydneyoperahouse.com
GPS coordinates: -33.85706,151.21490
Latest update: December 11, 2025 20:23
20th and 21st-century architecture has transformed city centers with structures that push engineering boundaries. Observation towers like the Seattle Space Needle and experimental residential complexes like Habitat 67 in Montreal demonstrate the evolution of construction techniques. Architects have...
This collection presents significant architectural works from different periods and continents. From medieval cathedrals to contemporary skyscrapers, the selection documents the technical and aesthetic development of building design. The listed buildings were created by influential architects and...
This collection brings together the greatest opera houses in the world, buildings that show how important lyrical music has been in the history of cities. From Paris to Sydney, from Vienna to Buenos Aires, these theaters reflect the musical richness of each period and each country. The architecture...
This collection brings together major technical achievements that have marked the history of modern engineering. From the Hoover Dam on the Colorado, built in 1936 to produce hydroelectric power, to the ITER nuclear fusion project in France, which represents the future of energy research, these...
Circular architecture has fascinated builders since ancient times. This collection brings together Roman amphitheatres like the Colosseum, medieval towers such as the Round Tower in Copenhagen, baroque domed structures and modern constructions. The circular form offers practical advantages for...
The large opera halls of the nineteenth century tell the story of classical music through their walls. Built in the most important cities in the world, these buildings show many styles: some have simple neoclassical shapes, others have the decoration of neo-baroque, and a few embrace modern...
In 2007, the New Seven Wonders Foundation, led by Swiss businessman Bernard Weber in cooperation with the marketing company Deureka, organized a global vote, the results of which were announced on July 7 in Lisbon. This project, which was especially successful in India and China, enabled the...
Some buildings have caused waves of criticism when they were built. Their unusual shape, large size, or high cost led to strong reactions. The Louvre pyramid in Paris, with its glass structure in the middle of a classical palace, surprised Parisians in the 1980s. The Guggenheim Museum in New York,...
Sydney Opera House Grand Organ
0 m
Fort Macquarie
20 m
Man O'War Steps
127 m
Tarpeian Rock
150 m
Concert Hall
28 m
Drama Theatre
51 m
Joan Sutherland Theatre
62 m
Playhouse Theatre
16 m
The Studio
13 m
Utzon Room
74 m
Earth Mother
216 m
The Satyr
183 m
Sculpture, Work of art
223 m
Relief sculpture, Work of art
218 m
Triangulation station, survey marker, memorial, commemorative plaque
103 m
Soudan Contingent
146 m
Bench, memorial
180 m
Bench, memorial
200 m
Man O'War Steps
149 m
David Malouf
189 m
May Gibbs
172 m
Umberto Eco
150 m
Ethel Turner
112 m
Ruth Park
86 m
Ray Lawler
98 m
Xavier Herbert
126 m
Captain Matthew Flinders R.N.
102 m
200th Anniversary of the Swearing-In of Lachlan Macquarie
171 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes