Australia’s Sydney Opera House is located in Sydney, Australia, and is inscribed with the Australian flag. In this episode, we will learn about the modern architecture of the Sydney Opera House.
Sydney Opera House is situated in Sydney, the capital of Australia’s New South Wales. The main attraction of this city is the Sydney Opera House, which is essentially a large-scale art show theater located at Benelong Point, Sydney Port. The building resembles a shipwreck and was designed by Swedish architect Jørn Utzon. Construction began in 1969 on 14 acres of land, and despite a planned completion time of four years, it took 14 years due to its complex structure. The building’s shape changed several times during construction, and the initial cost exceeded 14 million pounds. Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated the Sydney Opera House on October 20, 1973.
The Sydney Opera House measures approximately 607 feet in length, 390 feet in width, and stands about 220 feet tall above sea level, equivalent to the height of a 22-story building. Its distinctive roof is constructed of 2,200 tons of concrete, covering approximately 67,000 square feet. The building occupies an area of about 645 km2 and houses multiple concert and rehearsal halls, with the Concert Hall being the largest, accommodating around 2,700 people. Other facilities include a 150-seat opera theater, a 550-seat drama theater, a 400-seat penthouse, and a studio for 400 people. Additionally, the Opera House features various shops for food and groceries.
The Sydney Opera House hosts over 3,000 concerts annually, attracting approximately 200,000 spectators. In addition to concerts, visitors can tour the building, with around 800,000 visitors annually. The Opera House also offers cultural activities, including the popular light show “Badu Gili,” meaning “light of water,” which occurs four times daily after sunrise, lasting 7 minutes each time. This show is free for all viewers.
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, the Sydney Opera House symbolizes Australia’s cultural identity.
