Jorn Utzon

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(b. Copenhagen 1918, d. Copenhagen, November 29, 2008)

Jørn Utzon was born in Copenhagen in 1918. He studied at the Academy of Arts in Copenhagen, under Kay Fisker and Steen Eiler Rasmussen. After spending the war years studying with Erik Gunnar Asplund, Utzon travelled through Europe, the United States and Mexico. He established his own practice in Copenhagen in 1950 when he returned from his travels.

Utzon has created a style marked by monumental civic buildings and unobtrusive housing projects. He incorporates the balanced discipline of Asplund, the sculptural quality of Alvar Aalto, and the organic structures of Frank Lloyd Wright into his designs. Influenced by architectural tradition, he attempts to create architecture for living that adheres to a strict structural and constructive process.

Utzon always considers site conditions and program requirements before he designs each building. He transcends architecture as art and develops his forms into poetic inventions that possess thoughtful programming, structural integrity and sculptural harmony.

Jørn Utzon died at home in Copenhagen, of a heart attack in his sleep, at age 90, early on Saturday morning, November 29, 2008.

References
Dennis Sharp. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Architects and Architecture. New York: Quatro Publishing, 1991. ISBN 0-8230-2539-X. NA40.I45. p155.

Muriel Emmanuel. Contemporary Architects. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1980. ISBN 0-312-16635-4. NA680.C625.

Details

Recipient of the Pritzker Prize, 2003

"Jørn Utzon Pritzker Prize", by ArchitectureWeek, ArchitectureWeek No. 142, 2003.0416. pN1.1.

Richard Weston. Utzon. Edition Blondal, 2002.

Tobias Faber. Jorn Utzon - Houses in Fredensborg. Berlin: Ernst & Sohn, 1991.

P. Drew. Utzon and the Sydney Opera House. Annandale, New South Wales: Inspire Press, 2000.

Fracoise Fromonot. Jorn Utzon - The Sydney Opera House. Corte Madera, California: Ginko Press/Electa, 1998.

P. Drew. The Masterpiece: Jorn Utzon - A Secret Life. South Yarra, Victoria: Hrdie Grant Books, 1999.

P. Drew. Sydney Opera House. London: Phaidon Press, 1995.

Christian Norberg-Schultz and Tobias faber. Utzon Mallorca. Copenhagen: Arkitektens Forlag, 1996.

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