Tributes Flow for Sydney Opera House Architect
Joern Utzon Dies Without Having Seen His Iconic Creation
Nov 30, 2008
Joern Utzon, the Danish architect famous for designing the Sydney Opera House, has died peacefully in his sleep in Copenhagen aged ninety. Flags on the Sydney Harbour Bridge flew at half mast and floodlights were dimmed on the Opera House as a mark of respect for the tortured genius.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd released a statement today saying Utzon was a “...visionary architect whose legacy includes one of the world’s most spectacular and inspiring buildings.”
Kim Williams, chairman of the Sydney Opera House Trust, spoke of Utzon's “architectural and creative genius who gave Australia and the world a great gift.” He added Utzon's creation had “...become the most globally recognized symbol of our country.”
Though Utzon spent ten years working on the Sydney Opera House project, he left Australia before seeing the final result of his efforts. He had left the country after a number of bitter disputes with the New South Wales political establishment who had employed him, made it impossible for him to continue his work.
His famous and revolutionary sail-like design, inspired by Mexican architecture, was chosen from a number of entries by New South Wales Premier Joe Cahill in 1956. Utzon moved with his family to Sydney in 1963 to begin work on the Opera House however left in 1966 amid disputes with the Askin Liberal government. The project was already over budget and had taken far longer than expected. Government architects finished the project and the iconic Opera House was opened on 20 October 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Utzon was not invited to the ceremony and a letter delivered to The Australian newspaper today by Utzon's then secretary Shirley Colless talks of a "vendetta against Utzon planned by the then NSW government". She said Utzon did not "quit" the project as has been reported but was forced to close his office because the NSW government had rejected his fee claims.
Though embittered by the experience, Utzon maintained his pride in his work designing the Opera House and in his later years there was a form of rapprochement between the architect and the Australian political establishment as he contributed ideas for changes to the World Heritage-listed building.
“The Opera House was very much part of his daily life, especially over the last decade,” said Richard Evans, chief executive of the Opera House.
Utzon is survived by his wife and three architect children. He was born in Hellebaek, Denmark in 1918 and attended the country's Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
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