The Sydney Opera House is Australia’s most iconic landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its design, defined by the large, concrete shells that tower above Sydney Harbor, was created by architect Jørn Utzon and was chosen among 223 entries in a 1956 international competition to build “a National Opera House at Bennelong Point, Sydney.” And boy are we ever grateful they picked Utzon’s design over the rest. See what the Sydney Opera House could have looked like with the following seven alternative designs superimposed into Bennelong Point by Australian insurance brand Budget Direct.
Photo: Budget Direct
This Is What the Sydney Opera House Could Have Looked Like
Second Place: A design from Philadelphia Collaborative Group
Seven designers from Philadelphia nearly won the competition with this concrete design that, thankfully, never saw the light of day.
Photo: Budget Direct
Photo: Budget Direct
Third place: Paul Boissevain and Barbara Osmond’s design
Photo: Budget Direct
Photo: Budget Direct
Honorable mentions:
Sydney Symphony Orchestra conductor Sir Eugene Goossen’s proposed design
Photo: Budget Direct
Photo: Budget Direct
Peter Kollar and Balthazar Korab’s design proposal
Photo: Budget Direct
Photo: Budget Direct
S. W. Milburn and Partners’ design proposal
Photo: Budget Direct
Photo: Budget Direct
Vine and Vine’s design proposal
Photo: Budget Direct
Photo: Budget Direct
Kelly and Gruzen’s design proposal 
Photo: Budget Direct
Photo: Budget Direct