sydney opera house construction

The primary structure 
consists of identical ribs
of reinforced concrete, 

produced on site. 

All ribs are great circles of a sphere (the centre of the circles and the sphere are the same - rotation of the circles would create the surface of the sphere).
The construction was covered with a set of equally sized arrow-shaped prefabricated tiles. 
It accentuates the curvature of the shells through colour, arrangement of the tiles and detailing of the gaps. 
At different distances, different features take effect in a very subtle design. 
The inside spaces are totally different, rather small-scale and with no overall concept. Meanwhile the basement floors, which face the harbour, have been renovated and
their functions changed (new theatre space, facilities for visitors).
The project was highly successful in its symbolic significance for Sydney and the whole continent.
After all those years, and in spite of the lack of an overall concept in the internal features it is still a landmark of Australia.