The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge
Sydney Cove and Circular Quay are amazing! It doesn't matter how many photos one has seen of the Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, they are stunning from all viewpoints.
Circular Quay is the main ferry terminal and the entire area is constantly buzzing with activity. There are digeree-doo bands, street performers and throngs of people, all occupying the same space at the same time. There are expensive hotels and Michelin starred restaurants, chic stores and junky tourist places. There is something for everyone.
Sydney Opera House
The Opera House is huge! There are multiple theatres, a smart restaurant and a gift shop within the building, plus a series of shops and cafes connected via a mezzanine level tunnel. After a long day of walking it was nice to sit in the shade, enjoy a glass of wine and watch the crowds from the serenity of our cafe table. It would be easy to spend an entire day there.
The Opera House profile, based on sections of spheres (not clam shells!) came to the architect while sectioning an orange! There are 10 separate arches, each one covered in self-cleaning tiles that appear white from far away. The tiles themselves alternate between reflective bright tiles and duller ones, that are closer to beige when viewed close up. The tiles were created in larger sheets and then linked together in the final construction phase.
Close up of a roof section
Like most icons in Australia, the Opera House is lit up at night. They play a light show across the sections, alternating between flashing colours and brightly coloured animation. The entire area is active 24 hours a day.
The Opera House at night
This is just one small part of Sydney, there is so much left to discover!
No comments:
Post a Comment