The Sydney Opera House is one of the most popular performing arts venues in Australia. It has been in existence for over 40 years, which means that it is steeped in rich and fascinating history. Even if you are one of those people who know a little about everything, here are five Sydney Opera House facts you were probably not aware of.
The Designer Was Not A Shoe-In
In 1956, there was a contest where people were allowed to submit their designs for the Sydney Opera House. More than 200 contestants competed to be the one to walk away with 5,000 British pounds. There were three judges that did not care for the submission from Jorn Utzon, yet a fourth one thought it was perfect. Luckily for him, the last judge prevailed and he was awarded the prize.
Interestingly enough, unlike other contestants, Utzon did not visit the place where the building was slated to be erected. He created his work using a combination of charts of the harbor and his experience in the Navy.
The Estimated Budget Was Painfully Incorrect
When the plans were drawn up for this structure, it was estimated that completion of the project would cost around $AUS 7 million dollars. Not only did the amount exceed this figure, it actually ended up costing $ AUS 120 million. This should probably be less shocking than it sounds since each sail had a cost of around $AUS 100,000.
The Glass Is Unique
The topaz colored glass that was used during construction of the building was made specifically for this project. It was flown in from France. This glass was made to order by French company Boussois-Souchon-Neuvesel and there is no other building in the world that has the same.
There Are Multiple Culinary And Beverage Options
One of the Sydney Opera House facts people are most amazed by is the number of food and drink options available. There is a cafe, an espresso bar and three different restaurants on the property. It should also be noted that there are seven separate venues that make up the opera house, and each of them has a bar attached.
Over 10,000 Workers Constructed The Building
The building is so massive that it took over 10,000 people to build it. To give you a good idea of how large it is, you can take eight Boeing 747s and place them side by side on top of the structure. This was no small feat; it took 16 years for the project to reach its completion, which contributed to the inflated cost that was mentioned earlier.
It is interesting to look at the back story of some of the most admired structures in the world. There is no way to know and understand just by taking a look at it or arranging a visit. Now you can fascinate everyone you know with your knowledge of these facts. They will think you are the most knowledgeable person around.
