Sydney` s icons-the Harbour, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House-are internationally known, but the work of only a few of the city` s architects is recognised outside Australia. Architecture flourishes here, but active participation in the international exchange of ideas and theories is the exception rather than the rule. Debate is oriented instead to specific urban and regional issues and architecture has been concerned with addressing particular problems and expressing a regional identity.
Sydney is a dynamic city, and one that is still being formed. This is reflected in its buildings, with many innovative projects and many architects who are deeply involved in its development. This guide introduces more than 100 buildings and urban projects completed since 1985, aiming both to give an understanding of the state of architecture in the city and to reveal something of Sydney` s culture and the concerns of its citizens.