then, suddenly in september 1961, utzon had an idea.ere, he could take all the shapes needed for its regular surface. he came back a week later and said, "i have solved it." and he made the scheme out of a sphere. but in so doing, he had changed architecture quite radically. so gradually the whole situation was going downhill, utzon couldn't, wouldn't, didn't produce the documents which his client desired. terrible shocker. utzon — i am not sure that he saw himself able to complete the job. it took the firm seven years, 350,000 man hours and at different times, 200 engineers to do all the work before the final structure emerged. the building was actually constructed around the capacity of the largest 12 cranes which could be found. seven years after utzon resigned, after endless discussions, arguments, changes in plans, and the expenditure of a further of £40 million, a finished building — the architectural extravaganza of the century — has emerged. you can't quanitfy to the extent to which the human spirit has been lifted by the sydney