The Sydney Opera House has become synonymous with Australia. An architectural masterpiece, it was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, who was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2003. An awe-inspiring structure, the Sydney Opera House is a prime destination for all visitors to Australia and is one of the leading centres for the performing arts, worldwide.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, the Sydney Opera House is a multiple venue centre for the performing arts, located at Bennelong Point in Sydney, New South Wales. Situated near the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it lies nestled in the harbour, near the Royal Botanical Gardens.

The buildings shell-like structure is home to a number of venues, with the two bigger shells housing the Concert Hall and the Opera Theatre. The Sydney Opera House is a major venue for presenting the Australian Ballet, the Sydney Symphony, Opera Australia and the Sydney Theatre Company. It also plays host to a number of touring productions. The Sydney Opera House is managed by the Sydney Opera House Trust, under the aegis of the New South Wales Ministry of the Arts.

The Sydney Opera House has been designed in the expressionist style using precast concrete shells, sitting on a huge podium. The building occupies four and a half acres of land, is 605 feet long and 388 feet wide. It is supported by 588 concrete piers which have been sunk to a depth well below sea level.

The soaring shell roofs of the structure have a chevron pattern with matte cream and glossy white tiles from Sweden. Although the tiles are self cleaning they still require regular cleaning and maintenance. The cluster of shells on the west houses the Concert Hall while those on the east contain the Opera House. The Studio, Playhouse and Drama Theatre are situated under the Concert Hall in the west. The Bennelong Restaurant is located in a smaller cluster of shells along the Monumental Steps.

The foyer of the structure has a curtain of gleaming glass walls and pink granite panels for the exterior. Australian white birch plywood has also been used for the interiors.

The numerous venues of the Sydney Opera House can seat more than a few thousand people between them all. The Concert Hall has 2678 seats; the Opera Theatre has 1507 seats; the Drama Theatre has 544 seats; the Playhouse has 398 seats; the Studio has a capacity of 400; the Utzon Room can seat up to 210 people; and the Forecourt is an open air venue with flexible seating.

The foyers of the building are also used for the odd performance. Other activities at the Sydney Opera House include social events, conferences and ceremonies. Other facilities at the Sydney Opera House include a recording studio; four souvenir shops; five restaurants and guided tour options.

The Sydney Opera House was completed in 1973 and cost over a million dollars. Its radical design and innovative facilities have made it one of the most distinguished pieces of architecture in the 20th century. It is undoubtedly an experience worth having.

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