Series 01: Jorn Utzon records, 1956-1967

MLMSS 2362

series

1956-1967

98329

MicrofilmRefer to Contents for location numbers

1 v., 27 boxes

The records comprise Jørn Utzon's office files re the construction of the Sydney Opera House. The forms of the records include correspondence, estimates, agendas and minutes of meetings, reports, research notes, schedules of finishes, specifications and tenders. The records include information on acoustics, glass walls, the Major and Minor Halls, paving and cladding, and stage machinery. They include correspondence with Professor Cremer, Professor Gabler and Doctor Jordan, acoustics consultants, Rider Hunt and Partners, quantity surveyors, Steensen and Varming, mechanical engineers, Waagner-Biro, builders of the stage machinery, and Zeuthen and Sørensen, electrical engineers.

VOLUME 1
Guide (box listing) prepared in the Mitchell Library to the records of Jørn Utzon available at MLMSS 2362 in the Mitchell Library Reading Room

BOX 2
(Request Microfilm: CY 2847)
Item 1. ‘a1 STAFF – Sydney 1964-‘, 1959-1966
Item 2. ‘a3 PUBLICITY a-z’, 1962-1966

BOX 3
(Request Microfilm: CY 2857)
Item 3. ‘a9 DESIGN MEETINGS’, 1964-1965. Includes agendas, ‘Business arising out of previous Minutes’ and ‘DESIGN PROBLEMS’
Item 4. ‘a10 DIVERSE MEETINGS’, 1965-1966. Minutes of meetings re miscellaneous aspects of construction, including glass walls, Major and Minor Halls, paving and cladding and stage machinery
Item 5. ‘a10 DIVERSE MEETINGS’, 1962-1964. Minutes of meetings re miscellaneous aspects of construction, including fire protection, glass walls, Major and Minor Halls, parking, tile lids and waterproofing

BOX 4
(Request Microfilm: CY 2858)
Item 6. ‘a12 SPARE COPIES’, 1962-1966. Copies of minutes of ‘DIVERSE MEETINGS’ with associated material
Item 7. ‘a17 ARCHITECT’S MINUTES OF MEETINGS’, 1958-1962. Minutes of meetings held in Hellebaek, Denmark, re miscellaneous aspects of construction, including the concourse, drainage, Experimental Theatre, Major and Minor Halls, stage lighting and stage machinery with associated material
Item 8. ‘b1 PROFESSOR GABLER’, acoustics consultant, 1962-1966
Item 9. ‘b2 DR. JORDAN’, acoustics consultant, 1960-1966

BOX 5
(Request Microfilm: CY 3413)
Item 10. ‘b3 ZEUTHEN & SØRENSEN, JULIUS POOLE & GIBSON’, electrical engineers, 1960-1966
Item 11. ‘b5 PROFESSOR CREMER’, acoustics consultant, 1962-1966

BOX 6
(Request Microfilm: CY 3414)
Item 12. ‘b6 PROFESSOR UNRUH’, stage machinery consultant, 1959-1966
Item 13. ‘b7 STEENSEN & VARMING’, mechanical engineers, 1960-1966
Item 14. ‘b10 STEENSEN & VARMING 1962’, mechanical engineers, 1960-1963
Item 15. ‘b15 (21) CONSULTANTS’ FEES general’, 1957-1965 [‘21’ was a manuscript annotation beneath the printed control prefix ‘b15’]

BOX 7
(Request Microfilm: CY 3437)
Item 16. ‘C1-B STAGE MACHINERY – SUPPLY, TIMBER FLOORING’, 1961-1966
Item 17. ‘C1-C STAGE MACHINERY – ERECTIONS, DELIVERIES’, 1963-1966

BOX 8
(Request Microfilm: CY 3447)
Item 18. ‘C2 STAGE LIGHTING’, 1959-1966
Item 19. ‘C3 STAGE LIGHTING TENDER’, 1958-1963
Item 20. C4 ACOUSTICS, STAGE TECHNIQUE’, 1959-1966

BOX 9
(Request Microfilm: CY 3448)
Item 21. ‘C7 ELECTRO-ACOUSTICS, SIGNALS & INTERCOM’, 1960-1966
Item 22. ‘C10 SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION EQUIPMENT’, 1964
ITEM 23. ‘C11 LIFTS’, 1960-1966

BOX 10
(Request Microfilm: CY 3456)
Item 24. ‘e9 COPIES S.O.H. EXEC. COMMITTEE, TECH. ADVISORY PANEL’, 1961-1964. Agendas and minutes of the meeting of the Sydney Opera House Executive Committee and the Sydney Opera House Trust, 1961-1964, and of the Sydney Opera House Technical Advisory Panel, 1961-1963 with associated material
Item 25. ‘f2 CERTIFICATES Girvan, Finecraft’, building firms, 1963-1964
Item 26. ‘f5 DIVERSE m-z 58-62’, 1958-1964. Diverse correspondence between Jørn Utzon and correspondents ‘m-z’ including the Museum of Modern Art New York, the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and Bruno Alfieri, editor of ‘Zodiac’

BOX 11
(Request Microfilm: CY 3457)
Item 27. ‘f9 MODELS’, 1962-1966
‘G1 SYDNEY GENERALLY’ [This file has been transferred to PXD 492]
Item 28. ‘G2 STAGE III Sub-contracts’, 1964-1966. Includes ‘STAGE III – PAVING AND CLADDING’, ‘STAGE III – PLYWOOD’, ‘STAGE III – ELECTRICAL’ ‘STAGE III – MECHANICAL’
‘g4 FURNITURE’ [This file has been transferred to PXD 492]
Item 29. ‘g7 SCHEDULES. Finishes’
Item 30. ‘h2 TILE MANUFACTURE Höganäs’, tile manufacturers, 1961-1965

BOX 12
(Request Microfilm: CY 3458)
Item 31. ‘h5 GLASS WALLS’, 1961-1966. Includes ‘SECTION 1 Framing of Glass Panels’, ‘SECTION 2 Waterproofing’, ‘SECTION 3 PLYWOOD Mullions’, ‘SECTION 4 Glass’
Item 32. ‘h6 PLYWOOD ELEMENTS’, 1959-1966

BOX 13
(Request Microfilm: CY 3459)
Item 33. ‘h7 WATERPROOFING, STAGE II, Shells, Tile Lids, Thiokol, Basement’, 1963-1966
Item 34. ‘h9 TILE TENDERS 1962’, 1960-1962

BOX 14
(Request Microfilm: CY 3460)
Item 35. ‘h12 KITCHEN RESEARCH’, 1964
Item 36. ‘h13 TILE LIDS, Manufacture & Erection’, 1963-1965
Item 37. ‘h14 FIRE PROTECTION & CONTROL’, 1960-1965
‘S5 PRODUCTION OF SEGMENTS’, ‘S9 S.O.H. MODELS – B, GLASSWALLS, CLADDING, PAVING’, ‘S10’, ‘S11’, ‘S14’, ‘S15 NEGS, GOLD & YELLOW BOOKS’, ‘S16’ [These files have been transferred to PXD 492]

BOX 15
(Request Microfilm: CY 3475)
Item 38. ‘STAGE MACHINERY TENDERS 1960’, 1956-1960
Item 39. Conditions of tendering and sub-contract for the supply and erection of stage machinery, Stage II; conditions and form of tendering, conditions of sub-contract and specifications for the supply and installation of electro-acoustic equipment, Stage II; conditions of tendering and sub-contract and specification for the supply and installation of signals and intercommunication equipment, Stage II, 1960-1965

BOX 16
(Request Microfilm: CY 3476)
Item 40. ‘THEATRE RESEARCH, RESEARCH GENERALLY’, 1956-1961. Includes ‘THEATRE BUILDING’, ‘ARTICLES’, ‘REPORTS’, ‘MACHINERY’, ‘LIGHTING’, ‘SOUND & SIGNALS’
Item 41. ‘WAAGNER-BIRO [builders of the stage machinery] Vienna 1957-1961 Stage Machinery’, 1957-1962

BOX 17
(Request Microfilm: CY 3477)
Item 42. ‘Stage Towers 1. Fireproofing, painting 2. Cladding’, 1965-1966
Item 43. ‘MAJOR 7 MINOR HALL ACOUSTICS, NUTSCH 1965-1966’, acoustics consultant, 1964-1966
Item 44. Professor Cremer and Joachim Nutsch, acoustics consultants, 1964-1966

BOX 18
(Request Microfilm: CY 3485)
Item 45. ‘RIDER HUNT & PARTNERS 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960’, quantity surveyors, 1957-1961
Item 46. ‘RIDER HUNT & PARTNERS 1961’, quantity surveyors, 1961
Item 47. ‘RHP 1962, 1963, 1964’, Rider Hunt & Partners, quantity surveyors, 1962-1965

BOX 19
(Request Microfilm: CY 3486)
Item 48. ‘VARMING 1960’, Steensen and Varming, mechanical engineers, 1958-1960
Item 49. ‘S & V 1963, 1964’, Steensen and Varming, mechanical engineers, 1958-1964
Item 50. Transportation Planning, 1960-1966. ‘1. Committee Correspondence re Parking and Development; 2. General Correspondence re Parking and Development; 3. Correspondence – N.S.W. Planning Authority; 4. Man-o-war Steps; 5. Meetings’

BOX 20
(Request Microfilm: CY 3487)
Item 51. ‘STAGE 3 PLANNING’, 1962-1966. Includes ‘STAGE III – Client’, ‘STAGE III – Contractor’, ‘PURCHASE OF PLANT’, ‘STAGE III – OVE ARUP & PARTNERS’ [structural engineers], ‘STAGE III – RIDER HUNT & PARTNERS’ [quantity surveyors], ‘Clerk of Works’
Item 52. Agendas and minutes of Site Conferences with associated material, 1962-1964

BOX 21
(Request Microfilm: CY 3488)
Item 53. Agendas and minutes of Site Conferences with manuscript annotations, 1965
Item 54. Minutes of miscellaneous meetings with associated material, 1963-1966. Includes ‘CO-ORDINATION AND PRE-PLANNING MEETINGS’, ‘MEETINGS WITH OVE ARUP & PARTNERS’ [structural engineers], ‘MEETINGS WITH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS’, ‘MEETINGS WITH M.R. HORNIBROOK (NSW) PTY LIMITED’
Item 55. ‘REPORTS’, 1964-1966. ‘REPORTS TO THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS’, ‘REPORTS TO THE PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES’, ‘REPORTS TO THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE EXECUTIVE C0MMITTEE’, ‘REPORTS ON ACOUSTICS’, ‘REPORTS ON TRAFFIC’

BOX 22
(Request Microfilm: CY 3493)
Item 56. ‘Specification notes and draft clauses. SCHEDULES OF FINISHES’, ca. 1961
Item 57. ‘SCHEDULE OF FINISHES’, ca. 1964
Item 58. Drawing index, 1959-1965, compiled 1965

BOX 23
(Request Microfilm: CY 3494)
Item 59. ‘ESTIMATES’, 1958-1965
Item 60. ‘S.O.H. – tender: STAGE MACHINERY, WIESBADEN AG’, 1960. Includes ‘STAGE 2 SPECIFICATION for STAGE MACHINERY’

BOX 24
(Request Microfilm: CY 3495)
Item 61. ‘SPECIFICATION and Conditions of Contract for the Supply and Installation of Stage Lighting and Control System DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS N.S.W. GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT’S BRANCH’, 1960-1963
Item 62. ‘STAGE MACHINERY Modification of Supply Schedule Waagner-Biro Aktiengesellschaft’, builders of the stage machinery, 1964
Item 63. ‘ACOUSTICAL TESTS REPORT – MINOR HALL MODEL BY PROFESSOR CREMER [acoustics consultant] – NOVEMBER, 1965’
Item 64. ‘STEENSEN & VARMING [mechanical engineers] DRAWING SCHEDULE SANITATION, DOMESTIC HOT & COLD WATER, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING, SPRINKLERS AND FIRE HYDRANTS’, 1960
Item 65. ‘STEENSEN & VARMING [mechanical engineers] Healey’s Drawings’. Mainly calculations and plans for i.a. the concourse, Major Hall and restaurant by Ove Arup & Partners, structural engineers

BOX 25
(Request Microfilm: CY 3496)
Item 66. ‘DESCRIPTION OF MECHANICAL SERVICES INSTALLATIONS and REPORT ON WORK PLANNING PROGRAMME, Steensen & Varming’, mechanical engineers, 1965
Item 67. ‘SPECIFICATION FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION CLOCKS ZEUTHEN & SØRENSEN’, electrical engineers
Item 68. ‘SPECIFICATION FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION EMERGENCY AND PANIC LIGHT ZEUTHEN & SØRENSEN’, electrical engineers
Item 69. ‘SPECIFICATION FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION HIGH VOLTAGE SUPPLY ZEUTHEN & SØRENSEN’, electrical engineers
Item 70. ‘SPECIFICATION FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION LIFTS ZEUTHEN & SØRENSEN’, electrical engineers
Item 71. ‘SPECIFICATION FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION LIGHTNING PROTECTIVE SYSTEM ZEUTHEN & SØRENSEN’, electrical engineers
Item 72. ‘SPECIFICATION FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION PERSONAL CALL SYSTEM ZEUTHEN & SØRENSEN’, electrical engineers. Includes specifications for the supply and installation of fire alarm system, telephones, clocks and lightning protective system
Item 73. ‘SPECIFICATION FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION SIGNALS AND INTERCOMMUNICATION ZEUTHEN & SØRENSEN’, electrical engineers
Item 74. ‘SPECIFICATION FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION TELEPHONES ZEUTHEN & SØRENSEN’, electrical engineers
Item 75. ’14-NIGHT – MEETINGS HELLEBAEK’, 1960-1963
Item 76. ‘DESIGN MEETINGS W.W.’, 1964-1965. Copies of agendas and minutes of Design Meetings with associated material kept by William Wheatland, an architect of Utzon’s office

BOX 26
(Request Microfilm: CY 3503)
Item 77. ‘SITE MEETINGS’. Agendas and minutes of Site Conferences with manuscript notations, 1965-1966
Item 78. ‘O.S.N. 1961’, 1960-1961. File re miscellaneous aspects of construction, including cladding, concourse beams, stage lighting, stage machinery, timber and tiles kept by Olaf Skipper Nielsen, Utzon’s site representative before moving to Australia
Item 79. ‘TILE SPECIFICATION’, 1962
Item 80. ‘NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY AERODYNAMICS DIVISION WIND PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS ON A MODEL OF THE PROPOSED NEW SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE’, 1962
Item 81. ‘CLASS – C CLAIM’, 1961-1962. Includes ‘STAGE 1 REPORT ON CLAIMS DEALING WITH INCREASE IN CONTRACT VALUE AND CLASS C FORMWORK’, ‘STAGE 1 CONTRACT Quantity Surveyors’ notes on Class C formwork’, ‘REPORT ON CLAIMS DEALING WITH INCREASE IN CONTRACT VALUE AND CLASS C FORMWORK’

BOX 27
(Request Microfilm: CY 3504)
Item 82. ‘ESTIMATES – Cost & Areas’, 1961-1965
Item 83. ‘DRAWING INDEX S.O.H., LIST OF FILES IN OFFICE & PHOTOS, LIST OF TRANSPARENT PRINTS’, 1959-1966, compiled 1966. List of files and photos and list of transparent prints were not apparent at the time of cataloguing
Item 84. ‘SPECIFICATIONS STAGE III’, 1959-1966
Item 85. Newscutting, ‘THE OPERA HOUSE CRISIS’, ‘The Australian’, 11 February 1967

BOX 27a
(Request Microfilm: CY 3525)
Translations of selected documents by P. Nobis

Those files whose titles have control prefixes, e.g. 'a1', are part of the original filing system used in Jørn Utzon's office, and have been kept in this arrangement. The filing system did not come to the Library in its entirety. Excepting Items 60-85, all files were originally placed in foolscap loose-leaf folders with the file titles and control prefixes, where used, printed on their spines. These folders have been discarded. Items 60-85 were originally placed in manilla folders which have been retained.

English, Danish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Swedish

Guide to the records of Jorn Utzon MLMSS 2362 available in the Mitchell Library Reading Room -

Preservation microfilm copies of MLMSS 2362/2-27 were made Dec. 1993 - May 1996.