MADE by the Opera House

Established at the Sydney Opera House's 40th Anniversary in 2013, MADE by the Opera House is an Australian-Danish exchange program that, in the lead up to the 50th Anniversary in 2023, will create an alumnus group of 100 students to continue the international and interdisciplinary links first forged by Jørn Utzon's masterpiece. Each year, five students from a NSW university and five students from a Danish tertiary institution will participate in the program in Denmark and Australia respectively.

Also known as the Multidisciplinary Australian Danish Exchange, MADE is an extra-curricular program offered to Australian and Danish students of architecture, engineering and design (in the built environment) in their 2nd year of study or above.

The aims of MADE are to:

Promote international and multidisciplinary interaction between students of architecture, engineering and design (in the built environment);
Foster cultural relationships between Denmark and Australia; and
Support the knowledge and understanding of Danish architect Jørn Utzon and the Utzon Design Principles

The Program

Five students will be selected for each program. The students will form a multidisciplinary team to collaborate on a 6-week project, developed by the MADE by the Opera House program partners and aligned with the Utzon Design Principles.

The five MADE students will:

Be placed at a host firm for 6 weeks to work as a multidisciplinary team on an assigned project;
Collaborate with various prestigious built environment professionals, who will provide technical advice and mentorship;
Participate in study tours, masterclasses and workshops relevant to the program;
Submit a group project report and individual reflection statements at the end of the program; and
Pending international restrictions, have the opportunity to reside at Jørn Utzon’s Can Lis residence in Mallorca, Spain, in the week prior to program commencement.

All instruction will be conducted in English. A MADE by the Opera House representative will provide ground support to the students, including opportunities to meet MADE Alumni.

Scholarship

Each student is provided with the equivalent of AU$6,000 to cover international airfares, accommodation and living expenses during their visit.

Program Dates

The annual program for the Australian students usually takes place in Copenhagen for six weeks in January-February. The program for the Danish students usually takes place in Sydney for six weeks in July-August.

2023 Students from Australia:

Residency at Jørn Utzon’s residence ‘Can Lis’ in Mallorca, Spain	Sunday 8 January – Friday 13 January 2023
Six-week MADE Program in Copenhagen, Denmark	Monday 16 January – Friday 24 February 2023

2023 Students from Denmark:

Residency at Jørn Utzon’s residence ‘Can Lis’ in Mallorca, Spain	Sunday 2 July - Friday 7 July 2023
Six-week MADE Program in Sydney, Australia	Monday 10 July - Friday 18 August 2023

Partners, Sponsors and Contributors

Founding partners:
Arup
Steensen Varming
NSW Architects Registration Board
The Bikuben Foundation
The Dreyer Foundation
Henrik Frode Obel Foundation

Sponsor:
AMP Capital Quay Quarter Sydney Development (2015 – 2021) - the first Danish architectural commission in Sydney since the design of Sydney Opera House, drawing inspiration from Utzon’s philosophy and legacy.

Contributors:
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation
Henning Larsen Architects - Host Firm for Danish Program 2014
Hassell - Host Firm for Australian Program 2014
COBE - Host Firm for Danish Program 2015
Arup - Host Firm for Australian Program 2015
3XN - Host Firm for Danish Program 2016
Grimshaw - Host Firm for Australian Program 2016
Spektrum Arkitekter and Steensen Varming – Host Firms for Danish Program 2017
BVN – Host Firm for Australian Program 2017
C.F. Møller and Utzon Center – Host Firm for Danish Program 2018
COX Architecture and Meld Studios – Host Firms for Australian Program 2018
ADEPT Architects – Host Firm for Danish Program 2019
SJB Architects – Host Firm for Australian Program 2019
PLH Arkitekter – Host Firm for Danish Program 2020
PTW Architects - Host Firm for Australian Program 2022
Hayball - Host Firm for Australian Program (July) 2022
Airbnb - For generously funding accommodation for the Australian and Danish MADE students in 2016 – 2018.
Etihad Airways - For generously funding flights for the Australian and Danish MADE students in 2019

Many thanks also to:
Contributors in Australia

His Excellency Børge Petersen, Ambassador of Denmark to Australia
Carsten Rosendahl, Consul General & Trade Commissioner of Denmark to Australia
Prof. Adrian Carter MAA, Abedian School of Architecture, Bond University
Broger's End, Kangaroo Valley
CPP Wind Engineering & Air Quality Experts
Danish Trade Council in Australia
Frost Urbanite
Meld Studios
Michelle Tabet
PTW Architects
Richard Johnson, JPW Architects
University of New South Wales, Faculty of the Built Environment

Contributors in Denmark

Mary Ellen Miller, Ambassador of Australia to Denmark
DR Byen (Danish Broadcasting)
Erik Nørgaard, Fredensborg Houses
Lindsay Johnston, Richard Leplastrier, Peter Stutchbury and Glenn Murcutt, Architecture Foundation Australia & Glenn Murcutt Masterclass
Jan Utzon, Utzon Associates Architects
Jørgen Ellegård Frederiksen, Bagsværd Church
Jørgen Jørgensen, Kingo Houses
Lars Nørgaard, Musikkens Hus, Aalborg
Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg
Spektrum Arkitekter
Utzon Center, Aalborg
Utzon Foundation
Aalborg University

Meet the 2023 Australian MADE students

Anastasia Uricher

Master of Architecture (Social Agency), University of New South Wales

“I have a keen interest in exploring the ethical implications of built environment professionals with regards to cultivating socially and environmentally conscious places and spaces. My hope is to develop skills that will enable me to contribute to a more site-sensitive, just and sustainable Australian built environment in years to come.“

Katherine Lewer

Masters of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Sydney

“As a strategic planner I believe in designing places which put end users first and planning for infrastructure which supports their needs. With a background in civil engineering, I pair my technical design knowledge with my experience and passion in place-based planning, to provide synergy between precinct visions and the layers of infrastructure which enable them.“

Mia Evans-Liauw

Master of Architecture, University of Technology Sydney

“My hope as a structural engineer and architecture student is to contribute with thoughtful design focussed on quality, social utility, innovation, and sustainability.”

Paris Perry

Bachelor of Design (Architecture) - with Distinction, University of Newcastle

“I believe architecture has a bigger role to play than just housing people. This role is spatial, this role is social, this role is political, this role is environmental. These schools of thought highlight the need for collaboration between design disciplines, where creating becomes a shared experience and fosters more thoughtful connection between designers and their work. Equitable and sustainable cities/spaces are the future.”

Rachel Liang

Master of Architecture, University of Technology Sydney

“Architecture perches at the heart of politics and culture, and exists not only as a physical intervention, but a deeply emotional one. My ambitions are to create ethnographically rich spaces that explore the nuances of the built environment, particularly in how its theory and practice intertwines with ethics and sustainability.”

Meet the 2022 Danish MADE students

Anna Fogh

Master of Arts in Architecture, The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation

"I wish to explore the way in which both functionality and aesthetics can meet in innovative user-orientated design solutions. Embracing conceptual and artistic thinking as tools, I am searching for new ways of living and interacting with architecture to address the inevitable environmental and societal challenges of future generations and the planet."

Christina Kjær

Master of Science in Architectural Engineering, Technical University of Denmark

“My interests focus around sustainability, functionality and responsible architecture. With a holistic approach, I aspire to create buildings with respect for our environment, that provide an everyday wellbeing for the people living and working there, and with focus on innovative and creative design.”

Filip Hede

Bachelor of Design in Product+: Furniture, Space and Material, The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation

"When working I try very hard at not creating unusual or extravagant results. The way I see it, the difference between art and design is very simple. Art is ‘me’ where design is ‘us’.”

Mads Primdahl Rokkjær

Master of Arts in Architecture, The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation

“I see architecture as a physical medium that, in collaboration with other disciplines, can connect the desires and needs of a specific user group, as a public and social catalyst and a creative solution to urban problems. I aspire to practice an architecture that can cultivate social interactions, engage with communities, and solve urban issues of public relevance.”

Natalia Nawrocka

Master of Science in Building Energy Design, Aalborg University

“Intelligent building design that derives from an understanding of the micro and macro climate, building systems and their interaction can provide healthy indoor environmental quality, limiting excessive energy use. It is my ambition to provide environmentally conscious design with the highest user comfort in mind.”

MADE Alumni

Upon completion of the project, students will become part of the MADE by the Opera House Alumni group. By the Opera House’s 50th Anniversary in 2023, this one hundred-strong group will form a living legacy of MADE Alumni who will have a deep understanding of international design practice across disciplines and hemispheres.

The MADE Alumni is a community and a professional network that collaborates, supports and mentors each other to become the next generation’s best leaders. Beyond the professional context, the alumni group is naturally evolving on a social level – friendships for life are being formed across Australia and Denmark.

The MADE Alumni are actively engaged beyond their own six-week MADE program, ‘giving back’ and supporting MADE in many unique ways, such as:

Promoting the MADE program through lunchtime talks at their universities, their professional networks and through social media;
Assisting in the recruitment process of new MADE students;
Actively participating in future MADE programs to welcome the new MADE students, participate in masterclasses, show the visiting students around their city, and plan social trips, and
Collaborating with the MADE program partners in extra-curricular events and projects that promote multidisciplinary collaboration.

The opportunities and possibilities that the MADE Alumni can create together are endless!

2014

Laura Craft
Robert Martin
Jennifer McMaster
Olivia Savio-Matev
Matthew Wells

Caroline Richardt Beck
Jakob Holmqvist-Larsen
Pernille Krieger
Jonas Snedevind Nielsen
Karina Korsgaard Jensen

2015

Alex Crowe
Julianne Lipman
Alasdair Mott
Nina Tory-Henderson
Nicholas Werrett

Arnþrúður Gísladóttir
Signe Møller Rosendal
Birthe Wohlenberg
Mai Alexandra Bogø
Mathias Ørum Nørgård

2016

Callum Coombe
Lachlan Finn
Deirdre Mair
Adriana Prasnicki
Andrew Weetman

Sofie Angelie Bendtsen
Nanna Rose Broch
Daniel Miroslaw Krajewski
Michelle Kühl
Jack Perry

2017

Eleanor Gibson
Jacob Levy
James Hansen
Awkar Ruel
Nicola Shear

Antonia Szabo
Charlotte Ea Brandt
Emma Helene Rishoej Holm
Mads Kjaer
Tobias Skov Pedersen

2018

Matthew Burnett
Rose Montgomery
Jaime Painter
Jeffrey Tighe
Daiming Zhu

Cuong Van Tran
Henriette Friis
Rune Wriedt
Sebastian Enevoldsen
Rasmus Hansen

2019

Billie-Grace Dunk
Jack Jeffries
Josephine Nicholas
Tom Dufficy
Nicholas Bucci

Andreas Sommer Kjærgaard
Asbjørn Eriknauer
Morten Juhl Stistrup Nielsen
Signe Skytte Madsen
Stefan Ekelund Perriard

2020

Bobbie Bayley
Irene Clark
Aislinn King
Muthu Kumaran
Stephanie Palmer

2021

Amalie Dokkedal Jensen
Elise Aida Cappelen Schultz
Niklas Munk-Andersen
Viktor Lukas Müller Thomsen

2022

Cedric Danso-Boame
Rhys Grant
Jatin Midha
Linh Nguyen
Arissara Reed

Mads Primdahl Rokkjær
Anna Fogh
Natalia Nawrocka
Christina Kjær
Filip Hede

2023

Anastasia Uricher
Katherine Lewer
Mia Evans-Liauw
Paris Perry
Rachel Liang

FAQs

1. What is MADE by the Opera House?

MADE by the Opera House is an extra-curricular program offered to Australian and Danish students of architecture, engineering and design (in the built environment) in their 2nd year of study or above. Each year, five students from a NSW university in Australia and five students from a Danish tertiary institution will participate in the program in Denmark and Australia respectively. The students will form a multidisciplinary team to collaborate on a six-week project aligned with the Utzon Design Principles.

2. How did MADE by the Opera House originate?

In honour of Sydney Opera House’s 40th Anniversary celebrations in October 2013, the Sydney Opera House Trust and The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts - Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation, have developed MADE by the Opera House: a Multidisciplinary Australian Danish Exchange program. MADE is also supported by Arup, Steensen Varming, the NSW Architects Registration Board, The Bikuben Foundation and The Dreyer Foundation.

3. Who can apply?

You must be enrolled in a recognised university or tertiary institution in Denmark or Australia (NSW);
Be undertaking a degree in the area of architecture, engineering or design (in the built environment);
have successfully completed the second year of an undergraduate degree in the discipline of architecture, engineering or design (area of study in engineering and design must be within the context of the built environment) by:

a. (For Australian NSW Applicants) 31 December of the year before the relevant year of the Program
b. (For Danish Applicants) 30 June of the same year of the Program
c. Return to their studies after participating in the MADE program.

4. I have completed my undergraduate degree – can I still apply?

Yes, but you must provide an official offer of admission from the university/tertiary institution, or if this is not available, a Declaration of Honour written by the applicant stating the intended university, degree title, expected commencement date of studies and applicant’s signature. This applies if the applicant is:

not enrolled in a degree at the time of application (for instance undertaking a sabbatical year or work placement) and intends return to study after completing the Program, or;
in the final year of their undergraduate degree at the time of application and intends to commence a new degree after completing the Program (for instance an Honour or Master degree)

5. I have completed my Master’s degree – can I still apply?

No. However, students undertaking a Master degree are allowed to apply – except if they are in their final semester of their Master degree. That is, if they will have graduated with a Master by the time the program starts then they cannot apply.

6. I’m an international student – can I still apply?

If you are enrolled in a NSW or Danish tertiary institution and meet the requirements outlined in the MADE Application and Program Terms & Conditions you may apply.

7. I don’t hold permanent residency status in Australia – can I still apply?

If you are enrolled in a NSW or Danish tertiary institution and meet the requirements outlined in the MADE Application and Program Terms & Conditions you may apply.

8. When can I apply and when do applications close?

For Australian students applications typically open March and close at the beginning of May each year. For Danish students applications typically open September and close at the beginning of November each year.

9. Am I too old/young?

There is no age limit for MADE by the Opera House, however, demonstrated ability for future achievement in and contribution to your particular field is taken into consideration.

10. Does MADE by the Opera House allow me to obtain any tertiary qualifications/credit points?

No. Scholarships are not awarded to enable the applicant to gain or contribute towards any tertiary qualifications.

11. Can the scholarship allow me to gain work experience overseas. E.g. an internship?

No. MADE by the Opera House will not enable an applicant to work overseas. However, the support of industry organisations and foundations will encourage closer collaboration between professionals and students in the area of the built environment.

12. Do I need any qualifications to apply for MADE by the Opera House?

The applicant must have successfully completed the second year of an undergraduate degree in the discipline of architecture, engineering or design (in the built environment).

13. I have applied for MADE by the Opera House in the past – can I apply again?

Yes. If you have previously submitted an application and were unsuccessful, we encourage you to apply again and to be sure that you check your eligibility before re-applying.

14. I am already overseas – can I still apply?

Yes. However, you must be available to personally attend an interview (in person or via video call). Also if successful, you are required to be available for the entirety of the six week program period.

15. If I am called for interview but can’t make it can I be interviewed at an alternative date?

No. Interview schedules are set by Program Coordinators and must be adhered to. For applicants who are unable to make the interview in person, a video or phone call option may be offered. If you can’t make an interview you may be asked to reapply in a future year.

16. How much is the MADE by the Opera House scholarship worth?

Each student is provided with the equivalent of AU$6,000 to cover international airfares, accommodation and living expenses during their visit.

17. Will you tell me where to go and what to do?

Yes – the five MADE students will:

Be placed at a host firm for six weeks to work as a multidisciplinary team on an assigned project.
Collaborate with various prestigious built environment professionals, who will provide technical advice and mentorship;
Participate in study tours, masterclasses and workshops relevant to the program;
Submit a group project report and individual reflection statements at the end of the program; and
Have the opportunity to reside at Jørn Utzon’s Can Lis residence in Mallorca, Spain, in the week prior to program commencement.

18. Can I submit more than one application?

No. You may only submit one application per year in the country where you reside. If you are not successful you can reapply in future years.

19. Can I put in a late application?

No. The selection process follows a strict time line and therefore, no late applications can be accepted.

20. If I am successful, when is the expected travel time and dates?

If successful, Australian students will depart to Denmark beginning of January and return mid-February. Danish students will depart to Australia beginning of July and return mid-August.

News Archive

29 Aug, 2022

Hayball hosts Danish cohort from the Sydney Opera House MADE program 2022

By Hayball

20 July, 2022

MADE by the Opera House

By NSW Architects Registration Board

20 July, 2022

MADE by the Opera House, Sydney

By MADE Alumni Henriette Friis

25 June, 2022

Urban rainforest, ocean pools: 10 ideas to transform Circular Quay

By Julie Power, Sydney Morning Herald

Jan 2022

PTW Hosts MADE by the Opera House

By PTW Architect

22 July 2021

Sydney students awarded 2021 MADE by the Opera House scholarships

The University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning

15 May 2020

How MADE students are proposing to revitalise the Sydney Opera House,

Sydney Opera House Digital

10 June 2020

MADE Australian Alumna Presentation in the Joan Sutherland Theatre

15 May 2020

Australian students journey to Denmark to learn from an icon, Create Digital Magazine

20 January 2020

Four Australian exchange students talk about their learning with Multidisciplinary work at PLH Arkitekter (in Danish), PLH Arkitekter

13 January 2020

PLH Arkitekter is hosting the Danish-Australian exchange programme ‘MADE by the Opera House’, PLH Arkitekter

2019

MADE by Sydney Opera House

By Stefan Perriard

25 September 2019

2019 MADE by the Opera House wraps up with Utzon-inspired design showcase, Arup

16 August 2019

Danish engineering talent characterise the future of the Opera House (in Danish), Aarhus University

8 July 2019

MADE by the Opera House, SJB Architects

26 September 2017

In Profile: Alex Crowe, Street Furniture Australia

24 August 2017

C. F. Møller architects involved in celebrating Jørn Utzon’s MØLLER

12 December 2016

From Syria to Copenhagen, Sydney Opera House

31 January 2016

Students propose to revitalise Sydney Opera House in 2015 MADE Program, Arch Daily

18 June 2015

Danish students’ project: turn Sydney Opera House truck stop into culture magnet, The Sydney Morning Herald

3 March 2015

Five Danish students to contribute to modernization of Sydney Opera House, Danish™

22 August 2014

Students MADE the grade, Architecture AU

2 July 2014

Genial minds make the MADE Program, Australian Design Review

12 April 2014

Exchange build bridges, The Sydney Morning Herald

24 February 2014

Danish students modernize the Sydney Opera House, Bygnet

13 January 2014

Inaugural winners of MADE by the Opera House head to Denmark, Architecture & Design

13 December 2013

Four Sydney Uni students head to Denmark on inaugural MADE by the Opera House exchange, University of Sydney

25 October 2013

Crown Prince couple present at the launch of student exchange program, The Danish Monarchy

25 September 2013

Opera House’s new look can be up to Danish youth, Berlingske — Kultur

Click to see images

MADE Live Updates

To read about news and updates about MADE by the Opera House, which will run between the Opera House’s 40th Anniversary in October 2013 and 50th Anniversary in 2023:

‘Like’ our Facebook page;
Follow us on Instagram;
Follow us on LinkedIn
Watch our YouTube Channel;
Email us at made@sydneyoperahouse.com.

To stay informed on the latest news and updates about MADE by the Opera House, including when applications open, simply sign up below.

The MADE Program, including its dates are subject to change and or cancelation (including due to COVID-19 restrictions), check the website for regular updates.

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