Sydney Opera House architect dies

New 1:23PM Sunday Nov 30, 2008

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10545802

The architect who designed the Sydney Opera House has died.

New South Wales premier Nathan Rees says Jorn Utzon was a visionary responsible for a masterpiece.

The Danish architect, aged 90, died in his sleep in Denmark.

Mr Rees says Mr Utzon's design has come to symbolise the spirit of Australia around the world.

Mr Utzon drew up the design for the Opera House in 1957, but quit seven years before it was finished after cost blowouts and design arguments.

Government-appointed architects took over and the interior was not completed to Mr Utzon's original plan.