Benjamin Johnston, a young Australian architect - Letter from Olympic City: arcspace.com

Letter from Olympic City...

The following letter and photos came from Benjamin Johnston, a young Australian architect. We are happy to celebrate the Olympics and Jørn Utzon with all of you.

Though it has been standing now for almost 30 years, the Sydney Opera House cannot fail to play a significant role in the story of contemporary architecture.

At a time when the eyes of the world are turned to Sydney for the 2000 Olympic Games, this attention is sure to pause long on the building that is the very epicentre of the city's civic pride. The building today is as comfortable with the public as a favourite armchair - while at the same time its sculptural presence on the harbour is as fresh and exciting as when it was first conceived.

In 1956, Danish architect Jørn Utzon brought with him to Sydney an idea that now seems so uniquely Australian, so in touch with the local attitude to place and environment. His insight showed the people of Sydney what public space truly could be.

The steps cascading down the podium back toward the city, as if hewn from the natural headland, is a site of public performance, a grand yet spartan entry, a spectator stadium (as seen on the first day of the Olympic competition as the backdrop to the Triathlon event) and a public harbour-front promenade.

The great concrete sails remain a marvel of engineering and constructional innovation, encasing the Opera Hall and Symphony Auditorium. Australians today who know the story of the construction of the Opera House cringe with the recollection of how poorly Utzon was treated - causing him to leave the job nine years before completion. The internal spaces are testimony to the fact, with both the halls clumsily inserted beneath the shells. They are neither functionally nor aesthetically well resolved - certainly not anything approaching the design Utzon had originally intended.

With the competition for a new Opera House for Oslo being awarded, there is now another reason for careful consideration. The Sydney Opera House is truly a landmark for the city - geographically and emotionally. How a Danish architect continues to touch the lives of people on the other side of the world remains an awe-inspiring achievement.

Benjamin Johnston

September 2000

Utzon arcspace features





				Features
		Letter from Olympic City... The following letter and photos came from Benjamin Johnston, a young Australian architect. We are happy to celebrate the Olympics and Jørn Utzon with all of you. Though it has been standing now for almost 30 years, the Sydney Opera House cannot fail to play a significant role in the story of contemporary architecture. At a time when the eyes of the world are turned to Sydney for the 2000 Olympic Games, this attention is sure to pause long on the building that is the very epicentre of the city's civic pride. The building today is as comfortable with the public as a favourite armchair - while at the same time its sculptural presence on the harbour is as fresh and exciting as when it was first conceived. In 1956, Danish architect Jørn Utzon brought with him to Sydney an idea that now seems so uniquely Australian, so in touch with the local attitude to place and environment. His insight showed the people of Sydney what public space truly could be. The steps cascading down the podium back toward the city, as if hewn from the natural headland, is a site of public performance, a grand yet spartan entry, a spectator stadium (as seen on the first day of the Olympic competition as the backdrop to the Triathlon event) and a public harbour-front promenade. The great concrete sails remain a marvel of engineering and constructional innovation, encasing the Opera Hall and Symphony Auditorium. Australians today who know the story of the construction of the Opera House cringe with the recollection of how poorly Utzon was treated - causing him to leave the job nine years before completion. The internal spaces are testimony to the fact, with both the halls clumsily inserted beneath the shells. They are neither functionally nor aesthetically well resolved - certainly not anything approaching the design Utzon had originally intended. With the competition for a new Opera House for Oslo being awarded, there is now another reason for careful consideration. The Sydney Opera House is truly a landmark for the city - geographically and emotionally. How a Danish architect continues to touch the lives of people on the other side of the world remains an awe-inspiring achievement. Benjamin Johnston September 2000 Utzon arcspace features