It all started with the Sydney Opera House

I've always been interested in architecture. As a young kid, my teacher would tell me to also draw other things than just buildings. But as soon as someone taught me drawing perspective, I was hooked. While my classmates would draw horses and cats. I was drawing buildings all the way to the horizon!

It didn't just show in my drawings. When playing with Legos I was obsessed with houses. Whenever my brother would tear down one of my houses, I was ready to kill him (and all his cars). The more stories, the better! With balconies and a fun roof. And internet stairs, of course!

I think I was 13 years of age, when we had a school assignment for the "arts & crafts"-class. We needed to design a miniature "iconic" building with a communal purpose... and build it with cardboard.

There wasn't something like the internet in our house, back then. I'd seek inspiration from the many photography books that my parents had. Or the pile of my mom's travel magazines. And then I saw it... The Sydney Opera House!

My own cardboard opera house looked a little like the Sydney one. But it had none of the round shapes, because that was a little complicated with the cardboard. But just imagine many triangles glued together! My opera house was a masterpiece!

It was the first building that I encountered that stuck with me. This was a style of modern architecture that I liked. Something semi-organically shaped that stands out. I never forgot about this building, but also never really put it on a "must see" list.

Until I suddenly booked a ticket to Australia. It became nr 1 on my to-do list. And the universe agreed and gave me amazing gifts to help me with it. I found the best Airbnb with city harbour view. And it was even available!! From my bedroom, I was able to see the Opera House the whole day & night! A view normally only millionaires would have...

The best gift was the storm... It was the afternoon before I would leave and I planned on spending it at the Opera House. As soon as I reached the stairs, it started pouring rain! Everyone would vanish! And I had the outside of the Opera House all to myself (ignoring a few security guards).

As soon as the crowds returned I walked away... a happy Steemian, having snapped some photos of my first architecture love...