ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: The paper aims to examine the work of the Danish architect Jørn Utzon (Copenhagen, 1918-2008) focusing in particular on the poetics of construction he developed throughout his career. Utzon’s oeuvre is relatively scanty but consistent, and it is characterized by large structural spans, a sculptural use of materials, and a determination to define public and symbolic places through floating roofs over compact horizontal platforms that engage in dialogue with a ground that is dug up and molded. With an approach to Utzon’s projects, that includes a selection of his most significant projects, the paper proposes an overall overview with references to his structural logic, revealing the key aspects of his unique poetic universe.