In January 2015 the new Philharmonie de Paris concert hall was opened by President François Hollande. The event was controversially boycotted by the building’s architect, Jean Nouvel, in protest at the French government’s decision to open the 2400-seat auditorium well before it was finished. The architect has since lost a court battle that hinged on what he called the ‘sabotage’ of his design. Way over budget and schedule and with many construction hurdles, the problematic project and the repercussions for its architect strike a familiar chord.

Half a century ago a similar scenario, but with even more drastic consequences, played out in Sydney when Jørn Utzon spectacularly resigned as architect of the unfinished Sydney Opera House. In April 1966 he flew out of Sydney, never to return. He left behind a set of magnificent but empty concrete shells: not only was the building unfinished, the plans for completion of its interiors and cladding were far from resolved.