Events

Trilogy: the architect, engineer and contractor

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This October, we are celebrating the Sydney Opera House’s 50th anniversary, and the beginning of our story in Australia – our first office at the Sydney Opera House construction site.

To mark this occasion, we invited audiences to experience the seldom-told story of an incredible trilogy: the collaboration between architect Jørn Utzon, engineer Ove Arup and contractor Hornibrook during the construction of the Sydney Opera House.

Our guests discussed the many design firsts and the pioneering use of materials and technologies, and shared insights into the technical challenges, including the Utzon Design Principles and maintaining the Sydney Opera House’s 250-300-year life span.

Our speakers:

Richard Johnson AO MBE, Founding Director, Johnson Pilton Walker (JPW)
Richard is a founding director of Johnson Pilton Walker (JPW) a leading Australian Architectural practice. His contribution to Architecture and the Arts is recognised by an MBE, The RAIA Gold Medal, RAIA life Fellow, Life Governor of the AGNSW, Distinguished Alumni UNSW and the Order of Australia. He is currently an Honorary Professor UNSW BE and serves on City of Sydney Design and Public Art Advisory Panels. Richard was an advisor to the Sydney Opera House Trust from 1998 to 2008 and together with JPW collaborated with Jørn Utzon and Jan Utzon on several key Sydney Opera House projects.

Richard Hough, Senior Consultant, Arup
Richard has been a structural engineer with Arup for over 40 years. Richard’s experience with the Sydney Opera House spans working on the final stages of the design in 1970, to then rejoining the Arup team in 2000 to assist Richard Johnson, Jørn and Jan Utzon on the Sydney Opera House Renewal Project. Richard also worked closely for many years with Jack Zunz, project engineer for the Opera House through the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Dr Luciano Cardellicchio, Senior Lecturer in Architectural Construction, UNSW
Trained as a building Engineer, Luciano is a researcher and educator who holds a doctoral degree in Architecture and Construction. Currently, he is actively involved in various research projects, with a specific emphasis on three key areas: investigating the Australian contribution to the construction of the Sydney Opera House, investigating accelerated aging patterns in non-standard buildings, and studying the significant role of construction culture in the assessment of heritage values.