Sydney Opera House

One of the world’s most recognised buildings, the Sydney Opera House, Australia’s youngest World Heritage site was declared in June 2007. UNESCO used the following words to justify their decision: “A daring and visionary experiment that has had an enduring influence on the emergent architecture of the late 20th-century. The building is a great artistic monument and an icon." The Danish architect Joern Utzon won a worldwide competition and took on the project, but it did not come without a substantial amount of controversy: Not only was the Opera House to be built on a disused waste disposal site, but the budget of originally AUD 7 million blew up to be AUD 102 million. The required funds were raised by creating a special lottery. The Opera House welcomes almost 5 million visitors each year, about one third also attend a performance. The Australian Chamber Orchestra, the acclaimed Opera Australia, the Sydney Theatre Company and other music, dance and theatrical presenters have their home base here.