Posted on 15.11.2011 and 02.09.2014
"There is no doubt that the Sydney Opera House is his masterpiece. It is one of the great iconic buildings of the 20th century, an image of great beauty that has become known throughout the world - a symbol for not only a city, but a whole country and continent", wrote Hyatt Foundation in the memo supporting the granting of Pritzker Architecture Prize (architecture's Highest Honor) to Jørn Utzon in 2003. But many had to bear the danish from the Australian authorities during the construction of the Sydney Opera House, although just these authorities have chosen his project following a design competition. Lack of vision of the construction firms, politicians obtuseness, politically lowballed construction budget (final costs amounted to 102 million AUD, while the initial budget was 7 million) and poor communication between the involved parties were just as many reasons for Utzon to resign in 1966, seven years after the construction begining and exactly seven before it ends.For various reasons, the costs being the main, Danish's plans weren't respected to the interiors achievement, which later turned out to be a mistake. As a supreme disregard, Utzon not only wasn't invited to the inauguration, but nor was his name mentioned.
In the late 90s the Sydney Opera House Trust has attempted a reconciliation with the architect, and in 2007 was even approved the proposal to rebuild after its original plans. On June 28rd, 2007 the Sydney Opera House was declared a World Heritage Site. Jørn Utzon was first person to was still alive while one of their works was added to the List. Utzon died on 29 November 2008. According to Christian Norberg-Schulz, in Architecture: Meaning and Place, "Jørn Utzon represents a true continuation of the new tradition opened by these pioneers [Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Alvar Aalto and Louis Kahn]. Because of his concrete, phenomenological approach to the world in which we live, he has been able to rescue architecture from the sterile impasse of late-modernism. In his works the basic elements of lived space become present: the earth, the sky and the between of human existence.”
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