The Sydney Opera House lights that illuminate its sails (seen here) were dimmed yesterday to mark the death of Danish architect Joern Utzon (next picture), who died of a heart attack on Saturday, aged 90. -- PHOTOS: ASSOCIATED PRESS
SYDNEY: The distinctive white sails of the Sydney Opera House darkened last night to mourn the death of Mr Joern Utzon, the creative mind behind the famous landmark.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd led praise for the Danish architect, who never saw his masterpiece after falling out with the Australian authorities over cost overruns during its construction.
'Joern Utzon was a visionary architect whose legacy includes one of the world's most spectacular and inspiring buildings, the Sydney Opera House,' Mr Rudd said in a statement.
Floodlights that illuminate the shell-like structure were dimmed for one hour to mark Mr Utzon's death. Flags on the city's other landmark, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, will be lowered to half-mast today to honour him.
Mr Utzon died of a heart attack in his sleep on Saturday, surrounded by family members, in Denmark, his son Kim said. He was 90.
