From the Archives, 1957: Utzon's design wins Opera House contest From the Archives, 1957: Utzon's design wins Opera House contest On January 29, 1957, Danish architect Joern Utzon was a relative unknown when his controversial entry won the international competition to design an Opera House at Bennelong Point. By Staff reporter Save Normal text size The Sydney Morning Herald on January 30, 1957. Joern Utzon, 38, of Hellebaek, Denmark, has won the £5000 first prize in a world-wide contest for a design for a National Opera House to be built at Bennelong Point. Joern Utzonâs winning design for a National Opera House at Bennelong Point published on the front page of