Sydney Opera House

In 1955 a design competition was announced for a venue that could hold large theatrical productions. The entries had to have a large hall to seat 3,000 and a small hall for 1,200 people, each hall had to be designed for different uses; including holding large meetings to full-scale operas. 233 people from 32 countries entered the competition, but it was one Dane who took the prize, Jorn Utzon. Construction began in 1959 and was completed in 1973, 10 years after the original completion date. The completion date isn't the only thing that went over the original estimate, the total cost of the building was $102 million, $95 million over the original budget! This was Jorn Utzon's first design that had been built and will go down as one of the most iconic and famous in the world.