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Sydney Opera House Tiles:
The Mind-Boggling Story Behind Australia’s Iconic Landmark

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The Sydney Opera House, one of the most iconic landmarks is not only Australia’s pride but also one of the most recognizable buildings in the world making it a masterpiece of 20th century architecture.

This extraordinary opera house is an art in the form of a building located on the foreshore of the Sydney Harbour. The design of the Sydney Opera House was the brain child of Danish architect Jorn Utzon. While the entire building is an engineering marvel in terms of construction and technological innovation, have you ever wondered about the Sydney Opera House Tiles?

Yes, the tiles used in this stunning architectural masterpiece have an interesting story of its own, so let’s learn about the tiles used in the Sydney Opera House.

opera house

Tiling Australia’s Iconic Sydney Opera House

When it comes to the story of the Sydney Opera House, everything about this architectural masterpiece has a unique story of its own and so does the tiles used in the construction of this building.

The architect of the Sydney Opera House, JՓrn Utzon has mentioned in his design principles published in 2002 that tiles were a major item in the building.

The tiles for the roof the Sydney Opera House were custom manufactured by Hoganas company of Sweden in collaboration with the architect Jorn Utzon. The tiles later came to known as the “Sydney Tile” which were 120mm square tiles made from clay mixed with a minimal percentage of crushed stone.

Utzon wanted the outer shell roofs of the Sydney Opera House to contrast with the deep blue color of the Sydney Harbor and also with the clear Australian sky.

Hence, to achieve this feat, the tiles had to glossy but not entirely mirror like. Therefore, the tiles were custom built in Sweden which took 3 years and the rest is history.

The roof of the Sydney Opera House has 1,056,006 tiles in total which gives this marvel of a building that iconic look.

opera house roof

The Self-Cleaning Tiles of the Sydney Opera House

Another magnificent thing about the tiles used in the Sydney Opera House are the self-cleaning tiles that never get a scrub down by anything but the elements. The Danish architect Jorn Utzon designed the spherical roofs allowing for a good drainage which cleans the tiles.

Where to Buy the Best Tiles in Sydney?

Did you get inspired by the story of the tiles used in this national treasure of Australia? So, how about giving your own house that iconic touch with the best tiles in Sydney from Royal tiles Australia, Auburn.

Royal Tiles is one of the biggest tile suppliers in Sydney and we have one of the largest tile showrooms in Sydney. We house an impressive collection of the best porcelain tiles, ceramic tiles, mosaic tiles, terrazzo tiles, limestone & marble tiles and a lot more of the best quality tiles in Australia.

So, visit or tile shop in Auburn, Sydney Today or contact us to buy the best tiles for your dream property. You can also check our tile collection in the product section of our website.