Sydney Opera House: The strength of an idea

Modern computational tools could have enabled the structural analysis of Jørn Utzon's original free-form roof design for Sydney Opera House, potentially preserving its envisioned aesthetic integrity. The study explores whether Utzon's competition-winning concept—initially deemed unbuildable due to technological limitations in 1957—would have been structurally feasible with contemporary engineering software and methods. It examines the historical constraints faced by structural engineers at Arup, who had to adapt Utzon's vision to calculable geometries, raising questions about the balance between artistic innovation and technical feasibility in architectural design.

Rey-Rey, J. (2022). Sydney Opera House: The strength of an idea. Structures and Architecture A Viable Urban Perspective?, 1357–1365. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003023555-162