Jørn Utzon

The famous Danish architect Jørn Utzon was born in 1918, son of Aage Utzon, director of the naval shipyard in Aalborg and a brilliant naval architect. In 1950, Jørn Utzon established his own firm in Copenhagen, and in 1957 he won the international contest for an opera house in Sydney.

In 2003, he became the first Dane ever to receive the Pritzker Prize. A prize, which is known throughout the world as architecture's highest honour, and which the Danish architect received for the Opera House in Sydney, one of the greatest iconic buildings of the 20th century.

Jørn Utzon was architect on Bagsværd Church, Kingo Housing Project in Elsinore and Kuwait National Assembly. The Dane has, among other things, found his inspiration through his many journeys around the world. He is known to stick to strict structural processes and not to compromise the materials in his proposals when building. Also he has high considerations of light and surroundings.

Jørn Utzon's two sons Jan and Kim, who have also received great acknowledgement for their work, carry on the family tradition within architecture. Jørn Utzon’s daughter Lin Utzon is the designer of the Hans Christian Andersen tableware, which was released in connection with the author's 200 year anniversary. Jørn Utzon passed away in 2008 - 90 years old.

Utzon.dk

Bagsværd Church