Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House sits on Bennelong Point, defined by its interlocking white concrete shells that resemble billowing sails against the harbor water. Danish architect Jørn Utzon designed these roofs in the late fifties, though his vision created a construction nightmare that lasted fourteen years. Engineers struggled to solve the geometry of the curves, and costs ballooned well past the original budget. Utzon eventually resigned before the interiors were finished, leaving the project to a team of local architects to complete the job.