East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Jorn Utzon's perspective (1998)

I have returned from my August break from posting entries. Before the break, I continued a series on the redevelopment of East Circular Quay. I had begun to focus on 1998 and the completion of Bennelong Apartments, which had become known as "The Toaster." 

This entry will also focus on 1998. 

During the year, the Sydney Opera House celebrated its silver jubilee, opening 25 years earlier in 1973.

Jorn Utzon, the architect of the Opera House, had been made aware of the redevelopment. In June, he expressed his support for those opposing it. A message prepared by Utzon was presented at a rally of 1200 people in the Sydney Town Hall. Like the protestors, he wanted the buildings demolished.

 

Source: Totaro, P. "Utzon tells Opera House protestors: I'm a with you".  The Sydney Morning Herald,  May 21:2. 

A month earlier, Utzon had told The Daily Telegraph that the land should be purchased and the redevelopment stopped.

Source: Anon. 1998. "Utzon wants Circular Quay building stopped". The Daily Telegraph, April 20: 7. 

A month later, Utzon elaborated on those concerns—he wanted a better connection between the Royal Botanic Gardens and Circular Quay and to avoid blocking views of the Opera House.

Source: Totaro, P. 1998. "Utzon: flats ruin Opera House site". The Sydney Morning Herald, May 22: 2. 

Source: O'Rourke, J. 1998. "Utzon's plan for Toaster pops up". The Sun Herald, July 19: 31.

The Sun Herald (July 19, 1998) published an artist's impression drawn by Utzon in 1962, which was available in the Mitchell Library at the State Library of NSW. At the time, he advocated a "wall of buildings" at East Circular Quay.

Next week, I will focus on the protests from 1998.

Entries in this Series

1. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The first apartment block proposal (1979)
2. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme (1984)
3. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1986)
4. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Opera Garden Centre Scheme Revisited (1986)
5. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unilever House Hotel Conversion (1987)
6. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's 1990 Scheme
7. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): CML's Bennelong Centre (1991)
8. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The Revolving Office Tower Scheme (1991)
9. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): East Circular Quay 'Ideas Quest' (1992)
10. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Mirvac Hotel Scheme - 61 Macquarie Street (1992)
11. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): New Planning Guidelines unveiled (1993)
12. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The shift towards residential development (1993)
13. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Residential Scheme unveiled (1994)
14. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Construction commences (1995)
15. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Construction continues (1996)
16. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Unveiling "The Toaster" (1997)
17. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): The protests (1997)
18. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Redevelopment Visions (1997)
19. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): NSW Government Response (1997)
20. East Circular Quay Redevelopment (Series): Completion of Bennelong Apartments (1998)

1957: Jorn Utzon wins the Opera House Architectural Competition

Photo taken by the Author (2019).

This week, the Sydney Opera House turns 47. It cost $100 million to build and 14 years to build.

Below is the front page of The Sydney Morning Herald dated from January 30, 1957. The previous day, Danish architect Jorn Utzon beat 221 other entrants to win the design competition. His win also included a cash prize of 5000 pounds ($10 000).

The runners up also feature in the article. 

Last year, The Guardian published artists impressions of some of the unsuccessful entries. I've had a look and none of them would match Utzons design. It was a very good decision. Sticking to the literal design was impossible for engineering reasons but the refinements made hit the mark and the effect was still the same!!!

It is one of the best buildings built globally in the modern age. This proves Sydney can get it right with architectural designs. We just need people with vision to make it happen!!!! 

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