SOH BUILD Conversation Night“The Originals” + VR Experience
30 November 2023
In the Centre for Creativity
Workshops
With “The Originals” John Kuner, Wilf Deck, Michael Elfick, Ron Bergin
& Dr Paolo Stracchi and Dr Luciano Cardellicchio
Join the SOH BUILD team in a night of conversation with ‘The Originals’ – a group of original engineers and builders who built Sydney Opera House. For one night only, also deep dive into a virtual realty experience imagining you are onsite pouring concrete for the famous Spherical solution.
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Date |
Time |
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November 30 2023 |
6pm - 6.30pm: VR experience |
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Ticket |
Price |
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Standard |
FREE |
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
The only authorised ticket agency for this event is Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below. Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.
Sydney Opera House Insiders pre-sale
9am, Tuesday 24 October 2023
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What’s On e-newsletter on-sale
10am, Wednesday 25 October 2023
General Public tickets on-sale
9am, Friday 27 October 2023
Run time
The duration of this event is 120 minutes.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Age
Recommended for lifelong learners.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
Go back in time with “The Originals”
They have become known as “The Originals”, a group of the original engineers and builders who worked on the completion of the Opera House.
For one night the SOH BUILD program will present a public in conversation event with “The Originals”, along with a VR experience transporting you back in time to the construction site of the 1960’s and the innovative design solutions that were developed.
The panel discussion will provide a unique opportunity to hear the untold stories about what the final phases of the design and construction were really like when the engineering companies Ove ARUP and Hornibrook were racing to complete the seemingly unrealisable vision of the Sydney Opera House. It also offers an insight into the social and political conditions of the time.
The panel discussion features our Originals - John Kuner, Michael Elfick, Wilf Deck, and Ron Bergin.
Before and after the Conversation audiences can experience the hands on Virtual Reality Experience experience designed by the research team of Dr Paolo Stracchi (Sydney University) and Luciano Cardellicchio (UNSW). This dynamic experience puts viewers on the top of the Sydney Opera House sails to witness up close the construction techniques that built the magnificent sail structure.
The Virtual Reality Experience
The “Digital Heritage Construction project” is a collaborative research initiative focusing on the use of Digital Interactive Environments to assess the cultural significance of construction documentation and processes related to historically important buildings. The project showcases immersive VR experiences that recreate the construction site of the Sydney Opera House, offering a vivid representation of the building process as it originally occurred. These experiences aim to bring to life the documents, moments, and stories associated with the construction of this iconic architectural landmark.
This evening is being offered as part of the SOH BUILD Tertiary Built Environment Creative Lab in partnership with the Ove Arup Foundation.
Presented by Sydney Opera House
Meet the artists
John Kuner
Commenced work in the Construction and Building Industry in 1960 with M. R. Hornibrook Pty Ltd which led to senior roles in the building of Stage II of the Sydney Opera House. After leaving the Sydney Opera House project he worked in Senior management roles in O’Brien Glass, Pilkington, Hornibrook, Boral and finally as CEO of Penrith Lakes Development Corporation . Kuner wrote the book about his involvement with SOH 'Raising The Sails'.
Wilf Deck
Work with Arup in Peter Rice's Design Office in London from on 6 Jan 1963 until he was transferred to Sydney in the spring of 1964 as Peter Rice's assistant . He worked on erecting the shell roofs and in 1967 and worked for Dr. John Nutt on the design of two stage three items; the window walls and a carpark.
Michael Elfick
At the age of 16, Michael started as an articled pupil to a local surveyor. He then worked as a surveyor before joining Over Arup and partners for the Opera House Project. After the Opera House, he was recruited by Tony Cram (who wrote the surveying program for the Opera House) to help set up Engineering Computer Services, a company which specialised in computer techniques for geophysical and surveying applications.
Dr Paolo Stracchi
Senior Lecturer in Architectural Technology, School of Architecture, Design and Planning, The University of Sydney
Paolo is an Architectural Engineer who holds a PhD in Architecture and Construction. Beyond historical analysis, Paolo’s research interests span the exploration of the capabilities of cutting-edge technologies in enhancing heritage conservation, particularly in relation to construction documentation and practices, and the development of advanced construction training practices. Since 2020, Paolo has been serving as the Program Director for the Master of Architecture program at the University of Sydney.
Dr Luciano Cardellicchio
Senior Lecturer in Architectural Construction School of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts Design and Architecture. University of New South Wales
Trained as a Building Engineer, Luciano is a researcher and educator who holds a doctoral degree in Architecture and Construction. His research interests revolve around knowledge creation in the design development and construction processes of buildings. Currently, he is actively involved in various research projects, with a specific emphasis on three key areas: the Australian contribution to the design and construction of the Sydney Opera House, accelerated aging patterns and defects in non-standard iconic buildings, the role of construction culture and documentation in the assessment of heritage values.
Program partner: Ove Arup Foundation
The Ove Arup Foundation and Sydney Opera House are working in partnership to enable BUILD over three years from 2021 through the Opera House’s 50th anniversary year in 2023.
“An independent UK charity, the Ove Arup Foundation honours the memory of engineer, designer and philosopher, Sir Ove Arup. By funding educational programmes and initiatives, the foundation drives values of innovation and inclusive design, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Sir Ove Arup was involved in the original design of Sydney Opera House, which began in the 1950s, and his firm Arup continues to play a pivotal role in the building’s long-term development and preservation plan.
Danish architect Jørn Utzon won an international competition for the project in 1957. As the industry’s eminent concrete designer, Sir Ove Arup’s contribution was sought early on, and he began to turn Utzon’s freeform sketches into an architectural reality. Sir Ove Arup’s team confronted an engineering challenge that has since become one of the profession’s epic tales – the design and construction of the building’s enormous, precast concrete shells.”
Other information
Venue information
Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer.
Getting here
The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see the Wilson Parking website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six min walk to the Opera House.
Covid-safe information
The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We’re committed to making your experience safe, comfortable and enjoyable, with a number of measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. We remind our audiences and visitors to please stay home if you feel unwell. If you need to discuss your ticketing or booking options, contact our Box Office team on 02 9250 7777.
The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We have a number of safety measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. While face masks are no longer required, we ask all our patrons and visitors to practise good hygiene. Please stay home if you feel unwell and read more about our flexible ticket options.
The Sydney Opera House no longer requires patrons to show that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Frequently asked questions
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. RESALE RESTRICTION APPLIES. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
Please contact Box Office on 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues. Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and Portside are also available for you to enjoy.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
Frequently asked questions
We advise that you arrive 15 minutes prior to the event. Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts.
Prior to the workshop, please notify us if you will need a chair for the session, so we can have those available. Please email accessibility@sydneyoperahouse.com to request a chair or notify our team of any additional needs you may have.
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. RESALE RESTRICTION APPLIES. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
Please contact Box Office on 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend. If you can no longer attend because you are unwell, or have been in contact with someone displaying COVID-19 symptoms, the Opera House has introduced flexible ticketing options to help you, find out more information here.
Food and beverages will not be allowed unless specified in the event. Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and Portside are also available to purchase food before your event. Please bring a credit or debit card for any on-site purchases to enable contactless payment.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to the foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer or as directed by Sydney Opera House staff, adhering to COVID-safe rules.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
The Opera House has also developed a Child-friendly Code of Conduct to engage with our youngest visitors.
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