Managing change

Alan Croker, Director, Design 5 - Architects
Sydney Opera House is internationally acclaimed as both an architectural masterpiece and a performing arts centre – its ‘form’ and its ‘function’. These values cannot be considered separately; their fundamental interdependence being central to Jørn Utzon’s original vision. This vision was supported and executed through collaboration and innovation by all involved in the project, including Peter Hall in its completion.

Understanding, strengthening and celebrating this vision underpins most decisions at the House, particularly the design and execution of recent Renewal Projects.

Bold and innovative changes have been made that challenge previously accepted norms for conservation in Australia. This process of managing change at the Opera House, the role of the Utzon Design Principles and innovative tools introduced in the Conservation Management Plan, 4th edition, will be explained in this session.

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Alan Croker, founding director of Design 5 – Architects, has more than 40 years experience in conservation, adaptive re-use and new work across a broad range of project types and cultural contexts. He is particularly interested in conservation of both tangible and intangible heritage leading him to be involved with sensitive places and issues such as the Aboriginal Stolen Generations and the Sydney Opera House.

In 1998 Alan assisted James Semple Kerr with his revision of the 1st edition of the Opera House’s Conservation Plan. In late 2003 he was appointed to provide specialist conservation and heritage advice to the Opera House when Kerr retired and has since been involved with all major projects and issues at the site.

Alan is the author of Respecting The Vision, the 4th edition of Sydney Opera House’s Conservation Management Plan, 2017 – a crucial tool in guiding and managing major and minor changes as well as day to day issues at the House.