Sydney Opera House - A1 Shell Exterior model
At the centre of Utzon’s distinctive design for the Opera House was a set of interlocking vaulted shells that became one of the most challenging engineering projects ever attempted. Each of the shells is made of pre-cast concrete rib segments rising to a ridge beam, held together by 350 km of tensioned steel cable.
Although described as reinforced-concrete shells, they are in fact a series of concrete ribs that support a total of 2,194 precast-concrete roof panels which are in turn clad with over 1 million tiles. The tile surface is highly detailed and uses two types of tile - one glossy white, one matte cream - with clearly expressed joints. The design of the shells additionally involved one of the earliest uses of computer analysis to understand the complex forces they would be subject to.
This model is a recreation of a part of an elevation drawing that was used to document the concrete rib segments, and also appeared in the 175 Arup engineers journal on the building.
It shows the concrete ribs that form the main structural elements of the opera house; both a testament to Utzon and the many engineers that made it possible, from Ove Arup and team through to the onsite engineers.
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The sculpture is made from eco-friendly resin-plaster. All materials are sourced locally, made 100% in Sydney. Each model is framed using sustainably-sourced Australian Victorian Ash.Size: 30x30x4.5cm frame
Total Weight: Approximately 1.5kg
Each model is hand-cast with its own small deviations in colour and texture and small air imperfections within the casting.
At the centre of Utzon’s distinctive design for the Opera House was a set of interlocking vaulted shells that became one of the most challenging engineering projects ever attempted. Each of the shells is made of pre-cast concrete rib segments rising to a ridge beam, held together by 350 km of tensioned steel cable.
Although described as reinforced-concrete shells, they are in fact a series of concrete ribs that support a total of 2,194 precast-concrete roof panels which are in turn clad with over 1 million tiles. The tile surface is highly detailed and uses two types of tile - one glossy white, one matte cream - with clearly expressed joints. The design of the shells additionally involved one of the earliest uses of computer analysis to understand the complex forces they would be subject to.
This model is a recreation of a part of an elevation drawing that was used to document the concrete rib segments, and also appeared in the 175 Arup engineers journal on the building.
It shows the concrete ribs that form the main structural elements of the opera house; both a testament to Utzon and the many engineers that made it possible, from Ove Arup and team through to the onsite engineers.
-
The sculpture is made from eco-friendly resin-plaster. All materials are sourced locally, made 100% in Sydney. Each model is framed using sustainably-sourced Australian Victorian Ash.Size: 30x30x4.5cm frame
Total Weight: Approximately 1.5kg
Each model is hand-cast with its own small deviations in colour and texture and small air imperfections within the casting.
At the centre of Utzon’s distinctive design for the Opera House was a set of interlocking vaulted shells that became one of the most challenging engineering projects ever attempted. Each of the shells is made of pre-cast concrete rib segments rising to a ridge beam, held together by 350 km of tensioned steel cable.
Although described as reinforced-concrete shells, they are in fact a series of concrete ribs that support a total of 2,194 precast-concrete roof panels which are in turn clad with over 1 million tiles. The tile surface is highly detailed and uses two types of tile - one glossy white, one matte cream - with clearly expressed joints. The design of the shells additionally involved one of the earliest uses of computer analysis to understand the complex forces they would be subject to.
This model is a recreation of a part of an elevation drawing that was used to document the concrete rib segments, and also appeared in the 175 Arup engineers journal on the building.
It shows the concrete ribs that form the main structural elements of the opera house; both a testament to Utzon and the many engineers that made it possible, from Ove Arup and team through to the onsite engineers.
-
The sculpture is made from eco-friendly resin-plaster. All materials are sourced locally, made 100% in Sydney. Each model is framed using sustainably-sourced Australian Victorian Ash.Size: 30x30x4.5cm frame
Total Weight: Approximately 1.5kg
Each model is hand-cast with its own small deviations in colour and texture and small air imperfections within the casting.