How does a building look like sails, shells, and boats? The Sydney Opera House recently installed a tactile model for blind guests!
Descriptive Transcript
Haben (Voiceover): The Sydney Opera House has a tactile model.
She leans down to touch the bronze coated sculpture sitting on a low pedestal. The shape of the three buildings resemble billowing sails pressed together in a row. The two largest buildings have four of these flowing sails, and a small building, the restaurant, has two sails. As Haben studies the model, she speaks to Rebeka, their tour guide.
Haben: It is very cool to actually feel the roof that people talk about and to actually experience it.
Rebeka: Yeah, it’s a very unique shape.
Photo: A close-up of the model shows print and Braille along four sides.
Haben: My friend Nessa reached out to them, arranging this tactile tour.
Photo: Haben and Seeing Eye dog Mylo stand next to a young woman. They’re all smiling, and behind them is the Sydney Opera House, the bright blue water of the harbor, and the bridge.
Haben: Which included going all the way up to the sail-shaped roof and feeling the tiles on the roof.
Photo: A curved concrete shell covered in diamond-shaped tiles rises into the blue sky. Alternating white and cream colors create a slight checkerboard effect. Haben stretches her arm up to touch the tiles.