Jørn Utzon’s ‘Descriptive Narrative’: An Approach to Space at the Sydney Opera House Simon Dwyer Abstract The Sydney Opera House, one of the world’s most recognisable buildings, is situated on Bennelong Point: located at the northern end of the commercial district of Sydney, Australia’s biggest city. This space, jutting out onto the Harbour, is dominated by the physical structure of the building’s exterior which consists predominantly of a heavy granite base and the, seemingly, lightweight soaring shells. There is, however, another aspect to space on this site that is rarely considered: that generated by the illumination of both the delineated physical spaces and the spaces that are ‘created’ by the various lighting designs deployed across the built structure and the areas that surround it. This paper will utilise Jørn Utzon’s ‘Descriptive Narrative’ – written to capture the conception of the building as the architect viewed it in his mind – as a springboard to examine the illumination of the Sydney Opera House, and how lighting creates and defines the internal and external spaces at a very complex performing arts centre, as well as supports the illumination of these areas. Drawing on the disciplines of architecture, lighting design and the performing arts, this paper will examine the illumination and the important, although often neglected, role lighting plays to reinforce the metaphysical journey outlined in the ‘Descriptive Narrative’: a journey that patrons take as they move through various spaces between their arrival at the Sydney Opera House and their attendance of a performance. Key Words: Architecture, design, illumination, space, Sydney Opera House, theatre, Jørn Utzon. ***** 1. Introduction The Sydney Opera House is, perhaps, one of the world’s most recognisable buildings: a set of distinctive building elements and a unique silhouette facilitates identification – even by those who have never stood on, or looked directly upon, Bennelong Point. As an icon for both Sydney and indeed the Australian nation 1 ‘it rivals the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal and the Pyramids and its profile must be almost as familiar as Muhammad Ali’s face or a Coca-Cola bottle.’ 2 Strategically located on a peninsular surrounded by and extending into Sydney harbour, with commanding views at the northern end of the city’s commercial district, the site is within walking distance to other theatres and cultural institutions such as major art galleries, the state library and various museums as well as training institutions