5 Amazing Australian Projects

Home to some of the greatest pieces of architecture, Australia best presents itself as a land of free-spirited people if the designs of these masterpieces are anything to go by.

If you are planning to visit 'the land down under', there are numerous places that are a must-visit, purely due to the architectural prowess on display. Below are the 5 most amazing Australian architectural delights.

Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House was tendered in an open competition in 1956, receiving 232 entrants. Jorn Utzon's design only just won, since three of the four judges were unimpressed and rejected the design immediately. It took the foresight and imagination of the fourth judge, Eero Saarinen, to convince the other judges and eventually bring Jorn Utzon's design to fruition.
So significant is this architectural piece that it was listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site in 2007, aptly described as a 'masterpiece of 20th century architecture'.
The Opera House is constructed from a concrete frame and the roof was precast in sections and slotted into place.
Completion of the project in 1973 meant that the total cost of the structure was around $859million in today's money.

Sydney Tower

It is not only Sydney's highest view point at 305 meters, it also offers magnificent aerial views of the city.
In addition to an exhilarating view point, Sydney Tower also avails 4D cinematography showing the best views the city has to offer.
The architectural genius behind this outstanding structure was Donald Crone who envisioned a 'needle in the skyline'.

Stadium Austrialia (ANZ Stadium)

The grand Sydney Olympic Stadium is to date, the largest facility ever constructed that is specifically used for the Olympic Games.
Designed by Bligh V. Nied, the stadium is one of the outstanding pieces of architecture in Australia. What's more, the factors below make it worth mentioning in Australia's grandest works of architecture:
The roof is made from translucent material, thus making daytime transmission from the stadium seamless.
With Australian weather, the natural ventilation present makes the stadium a perfect temperature. In addition, the stadium also enhances environmental-awareness by using rain water for washroom purposes.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Commonly referred to as the 'Coathanger' due to its design, this is Australia's (and the world's) tallest steel arch bridge, reaching its highest point at 440 feet above the harbour.
Visitors who want to experience panoramic views of Sydney for a fee can take the Bridge climb for the experience of a lifetime, whether in the early morning or late at night.

Parliament House, Canberra

The design of Australia's Parliament House was decided on following numerous applications from all over the world overseen by the Parliament House Construction Authority.
The House rises out of the Australia landscape, perhaps symbolic of true democracy. The designer of this grand structure, Romaldo Giurgola asserts that the House was not built on the hill as this would seem to impose power on the people.
The arms of the House extend downwards, seemingly as a welcoming gesture.
Notable features within this House include The House of Representatives, The Senate Area, the Ministerial Area as well as the public arena.

Anna Taylor

About the Author:

Anna is an avid reader and blogger. Since her early years she’s had a passion for writing. Her areas of interest are food, reviews (Book/Movie), Travel, Fashion, Lifestyle and fitness. She works as a guest blogger on her chosen areas of interest. Her articles where published on different blogs namely golfgurls, pricestylist and many more. She is a permanent Guest Contributor at ArchitectWeekly. Currently she works for Australian visa.