Sydney Opera House

Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007, the Sydney Opera House is the first modern architectural icon. Its distinctive, photogenic form, situated prominently on Sydney Harbour, has accrued civic, national and design mythologies, and the story of the building's design and construction is an integral part of its fame. More than simply a functional concert hall, the Sydney Opera House encapsulates an event - often simplified as a visionary architect's heroic but ultimately failed struggle against government bureucracy, public indiffernce and technical difficulties. However, the complex interplay of design, construction, politics and public opinion belie its striking simplicity today