Utzon's Camera
A series of photographs from the architect's own collection, held by the State Library of New South Wales.
Model detailing the sections of the roof in place in the form of the sphere (1962) by State Library of New South WalesSydney Opera House
Architect Jørn Utzon's photographic documentation of the project of the Sydney Opera House offers a unique insight into the vision of the artist, designer, architect and aesthete. An informal style arises from these compositions as their creator looks on at the work he initiated and which gradually gathers more and more contributors under the increasing gravity of the endeavour.
There is a marvellous and casual mixing of the photographic frame’s compositional aesthetics with the subjects themselves, which range from objets d'art, seen in the recording of the scale models, to the monumental Opera House roof, the “fifth facade”, as Utzon described it.
While the sculptural shape of the roof was still being built and clad in almost a million tiles, Utzon withdrew from the project, never to return to Australia to see with his own eyes the finished building, compounding the poignancy of this wonderful record.
Model detailing the sections derived from a sphere that comprise the final scheme for the roof (1962) by State Library of New South WalesSydney Opera House
Various angles on an early model of the parabolic scheme (1960) by State Library of New South WalesSydney Opera House
Early parabolic scheme, 1:60 scale model, with figurines, 1958 (1959) by Jørn UtzonSydney Opera House
Inspecting a rib element on the east side of the Podium (1965) by Jørn Utzon, State Library of New South WalesSydney Opera House
Toilets at the end of the scaffolds (1965) by Jørn Utzon, State Library of New South WalesSydney Opera House
The cleavage of the building functioned as a central conduit for the scaffolding (1965) by Jørn Utzon, State Library of New South WalesSydney Opera House
Looking through the mighty Shell A2 at the Maritime Services Board, later to become the Museum of Contemporary Art (1965) by Jørn Utzon, State Library of New South WalesSydney Opera House
A cross-hatch of scaffolds (1965) by Jørn Utzon, State Library of New South WalesSydney Opera House
Jørn Utzon with a small model of the spherical scheme (1962) by State Library of New South WalesSydney Opera House
Created by Sam Doust and the
Sydney Opera House GCI Team
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Contributors:
State Library of New South Wales
