Success / Failure 5

Project Examples - Failure or Success?

Sydney Opera House
After an international competition in 1956 a design by Danish architect Jorn Utzon was chosen for the Sydney Opera House.

Building work began in 1958 before some areas of the design had been resolved. It was several years later when the design for the now famous roof shells was agreed - after 350,000 man-hours spent on the problem. As the construction began before the design phase was complete, the project ran over budget and time, and finally opened to the public in 1973.

During this 15 year period, there were many disputes over the costs, design and requirements. In 1966 Utzon resigned and was replaced by a panel of executive architects, causing further setbacks as much of his design had never been put to paper and existed only in his head.

In 1999 Utzon was brought back to the project to define a Statement of Design Principles for the ongoing development of the Opera House, some 43 years after the initial design had been accepted.

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