The Sydney Opera House: An Evolving Icon

AbstractDespite only recently celebrating its 30th birthday, Sydney Opera House is undoubtedly one of the iconic architectural monuments of the twentieth century; it is a symbol of a nation and the most visited place in Australia. It is also Australia's busiest performing arts centre. This paper is the first of two papers outlining the history of Sydney Opera House and the current approach to its management and conservation, examining the framework for the building's care and ongoing adaptation in the face of pressures arising from tourism and changing performance technologies.The recent re-engagement of architect Jorn Utzon provides opportunities for the evolution of Sydney Opera House to continue in the spirit of the architect's design philosophy. Given that the building was completed by others in 1973, seven years after Utzon's controversial departure, both the identification of the building's heritage significance and well-articulated policies for managing these values are critical. The paper will out...