What architectural style is the Sydney Opera House?

The Sydney Opera House is an Expressionist building.

Its design was created by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, whose proposal won an international competition in 1957. The building’s most recognizable feature is its group of sweeping roof forms, often described as sails or shells, set above a monumental podium on Bennelong Point.

The style is sometimes loosely called Modernist because the Opera House is a major work of twentieth-century modern architecture. However, “Expressionist” is the more precise canonical label used for its dramatic geometry, sculptural forms, and emotional visual impact. It is not generally classified as Brutalist, whose buildings typically emphasize raw concrete and heavy, block-like massing.

Construction began in 1959, and the building was formally opened in 1973. Its complex geometry also helped advance computer-aided design and innovative precast-concrete construction.