The most beautiful building in the world. The most unusual architectural structures of the planet
Just as there are places that you must visit at least once in your life, there are buildings that you simply must see in person. We offer you, dear readers, ten such architectural masterpieces.
petronas towers
For a full 10 years, from 1998 to 2008, the Petronas Towers in Malaysia were the tallest in the world. This is a real visiting card of Kuala Lumpur. Argentine architect César Pelli conceived them so modern and daring.
The project began in 1992 with the necessary measurements and checks to ensure maximum safety. The construction took more than 7 years. The towers have 88 floors, the facade of the buildings is made of steel and glass.
White House
Every president of the United States of America who has held office since 1800 has lived in the White House, whose full address is Washington, Pennsylvania Avenue 1600. It took 8 years to build this neoclassical building. President Thomas Jefferson was the first to settle here.
During Civil War the building was almost completely destroyed by British troops. Later, the building was restored, and President Roosevelt even expanded it in 1901. Now the White House is a whole complex consisting of the Residence, the West Wing, the East Wing and other parts.
This temple, the official name of which is the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, on the Moat, is located in the very heart of Moscow - on Red Square. The church was erected from 1555 to 1561 in honor of the conquest of Kazan and Astrakhan.
For almost 20 years this has been the most high building in the town. With its complex history and bonfire-style design, the temple has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List for over 20 years.
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building has long claimed the status of a symbol of Manhattan and New York as a whole. Even the name is one of the nicknames of the city. For 40 years this skyscraper was considered the tallest in the world.
Now it is only the third tallest in the US and 22 in the world. Thanks to its unique sophisticated design, the building was included in the list of seven wonders of the modern world. More than 2800 investors own it.
Burj Khalifa
Since we are talking about skyscrapers and world records, it is impossible not to mention the Burj tower. – Khalifa in Dubai. It is this building that now occupies the first line in the ranking of the highest.
Construction began in 2004, and by 2009 the facade of the building was completely ready. The official opening ceremony took place in 2010 and was broadcast worldwide. A huge international team of professionals worked on the design and architectural plans. The skyscraper owes its name to the President of the UAE, who wisely led the country out of the economic crisis of 2007-2012.
Fast forward to the European continent, or rather to Italy, which is home to one of the most famous and charming buildings - the Colosseum.
The construction of the Colosseum began under the leadership of the Roman emperor Vespasian in 72. The name originates from his last name. This amphitheater could accommodate up to 50 thousand spectators of gladiator fights, executions or performances based on classical mythology.
Taj Mahal
Another fine example of an architectural masterpiece with rich history – Taj Mahal. Located in India, it was designed as a mausoleum for one of the wives of Emperor Shah Jahan.
The style combines motifs of Islamic, Persian, Ottoman and indian cultures. The most common mistake is that many consider the Taj Mahal only this white building, while it is a whole architectural complex which took over 20 years to build.
Not only old buildings deserve attention. The Sydney Opera House is a fine example of a modern masterpiece.
It hosts over 1,500 events annually, making it the most popular Australian attraction. Thanks to its unique design, UNESCO included the building in its list in 2007.
Buckingham Palace
It is simply impossible not to include Buckingham Palace in the list! This is indeed a true symbol of the whole of Britain.
During its three hundred year history, the palace has undergone many changes, had different names and was home to a huge number of monarchs.
Flatiron Building
Another New York building that cannot be ignored is the Flatiron Building. In 1902, when its construction was completed, it was the tallest building in the city.
I think that many of you have seen examples of unusual architectural structures or even been inside such creative buildings. But today we will present you with 21 examples of fantastic architectural structures that simply amaze the imagination and surprise with the originality of the idea.
1. Atomium
The building is located in Brussels. The Atomium was built in 1958 by architect André Waterkeyn. The Atomium rises to 102 meters. Externally, the structure looks like an atom. Despite its impressive age, it still looks good, the reconstruction of the Atomium took place from 2004 to 2006. Then aluminum was replaced by steel.
2. Building Barcode
Located in St. Petersburg, Russia. The building is made in the form of a giant barcode. The black stripes of the traditional barcode are replaced by large windows, creating a very realistic look. The building itself is made in red.
3. Foggy building
The foggy building, designed by architects Elisabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio, is located on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland. This miracle has dimensions of 60 x 100 x 20 meters, made of metal. Special holes are mounted in the body, spraying water from the lake around the building.
4. Cybertecture Egg
The Cybertecture Egg is located in Mumbai, India. The surface area is 32,000 square meters. The egg-shaped structure is the embodiment of ecological design, an intelligent system and a memorable landmark of the city. In addition to its great design, the egg is equipped with the latest technological advances. The facility is able to monitor the well-being of employees - to measure their weight and blood pressure. The doctor will be notified of any sudden changes in the well-being of the staff.
5. Solar Ark
The Solar Ark is located in Gifu Prefecture, Japan built by Sanyo. It is one of the most impressive solar powered buildings in the world. The building was created as a symbol of "clean energy society" and inside it is the Solar Museum. The Ark includes 5,046 solar panels and produces about 630 kW of power, equivalent to 530,000 kWh of clean energy per year.
6. Building-Basket
The Basket Building is located in Ohio, USA. This is the seven-story corporate headquarters of Longaberger Basket. Inside the building, there is an atrium that soars up into a glass ceiling through which you can see the handles of the basket coming together above the roof.
7. Piano House
The Piano House is located in Hui Province, China. The violin serves as an escalator and entrance to the building. Apparently, the building was built by the local government to attract people to the developing areas of the country. This building is a perfect example of the harmonious combination of music and architecture.
8. Esplanade
The building is located on six hectares of land next to Marina Bay near the Singapore River. It plays the role of a local theater and concert hall, concert hall designed for 1600 people, and the theater for 2000 seats.
9. Cube house
The building is a combination of several cubic structures. The architectural composition is located in the Netherlands.
10. Project Eden
The Eden Project is an original structure that attracts many tourists to the United Kingdom every year. At the same time, the structure is the largest greenhouse in the world. Plants from all over the world are collected inside artificial biomes. The project is located 2 km (1.25 miles) from the city of St. Blazey and 5 km (3 miles) from more big city St Austell, Cornwall.
11. Spiral Forest
Waldspirale is a residential complex in Darmstadt, Germany built in 1990. The name translates as a wooded spiral, it fully reflects the general plan of the building, and the fact that it has a green roof. The architectural structure was designed by the Viennese artist Hundertwasser Friedensreich, the architect M. Springmann Heinz worked on the implementation, and the building was built by the Bauverein company in Darmstadt. The building was completed in 2000.
12. Robotics
The robot building is located in Sathorn, the business district of Bangkok, Thailand. Here is the headquarters of United Overseas bank. The building, which looks like a huge robot, symbolizes the computerization of the banking system in the country. The main features of the building are antennas and eyes, which play an important role both from an aesthetic and practical point of view. The structure was completed in 1986, it is one of the last examples modern architecture in Bangkok.
13. Atlantis
Atlantis (Dubai) is the majestic center of Palm Jumeirah, an artificial island that captures the imagination of people from all over the world with its unimaginable scale. From the moment you arrive, you are immersed in a dazzling world of style, pleasure and luxury. The resort offers relaxation and thrills for couples and families. Entertainment includes unique boat trips, an exhilarating water park, pristine white beaches, world-class cuisine, a spa and more.
14. Revolving Tower
The revolving tower is also located in Dubai. The floors of this architectural composition will rotate around the central axis. It will be a constant movement and change of form, which will allow the inhabitants of the house to independently choose the desired landscape outside the window at the touch of a button. The architecture of the structure provides a very high resistance to earthquakes, since each floor rotates independently.
15. Banpo Bridge
Banpo Bridge is located in Seoul, South Korea. It is the world's longest bridge fountain and has set a Guinness World Record with nearly 10,000 LED nozzles running along both sides of the bridge. Water is sprayed over a distance of 1140 m.
This project is the first of its kind in the world. The bridge has 38 water pumps and 9380 nozzles on both sides, which pump 190 tons of water per minute from the river from a depth of about 20 meters.
16. Palais Bulles
Bulles Palais is located in Cannes, France. In the early eighties, fashion designer Pierre Cardin wanted to buy a house so he could come to Cannes for the summer. While searching, he stumbled upon the construction site of a house being built by architect Antti Lovag for a French industrialist. When the owner died before the Bubble House was completed, Cardin bought the half-finished structure, added his own elements, and completed the building.
17. Solar oven
The solar oven is located in Odeillo, France. The building is a curved mirror (or array of mirrors) that acts as a parabolic reflector, concentrating light at a focal point. The largest solar oven in the world is at Odeillo in the Pyrenees-Orientales, France, opened in 1970.
When you plan a trip to any of the largest cities on Earth, be sure to visit their most famous buildings. These 10 most famous buildings on Earth stand out the most. The first tower, called the Shard, rises above the modern and vibrant skyline of London.
The Shard in London
The giant Shard skyscraper changes the London skyline and makes it the tallest in Europe. With a height of just over 300 meters above the ground, the Shard is the tallest building in this part of the world, and definitely one of the most famous. In addition, the Shard skyscraper is visible from anywhere in the city. Especially popular is the observation deck at an altitude of 250 meters, which offers the best view of the capital of England.
Big Ben
Big Ben, the House of Commons and the House of Lords are another famous landmark in London. This delightful building is one of the city's most iconic landmarks. The gigantic Big Ben tower with its four chiming clock is recognized all over the world, making it one of the most famous buildings in the world.
Burj Khalifa
Of course, the tallest building in the world will not be an exception in the list of the most famous buildings. The Burj Khalifa towers majestically over Dubai at 829.84 meters high, creating a particularly colorful lively atmosphere at night. The many lights of the Burj Khalifa are combined with other buildings to create a true contemporary atmosphere in Dubai. This building can only be called a masterpiece of architecture. At the top of the skyscraper is a restaurant with the most the best view to the city - At.Mosphere.
Burj Al Arab
This building is also located in Dubai, along beautiful coast cities. Dubai Sail is the most famous and most luxurious hotel in Dubai and on Earth. It is also quite high - almost 320 meters, which makes it the second tallest hotel on Earth. A symbol of Dubai's heritage, the Burj Al Arab impresses with its bright white silhouette and gigantic scale and size. A small narrow bridge leads to the Parus, and at the top there is a landing area for helicopters.
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is another famous building located in eastern Agra in India. This masterpiece of art is famous for its white facades and history, making the Taj Mahal one of the most attractive architectural gems in the world. The building dates back to the 17th century. This is a mausoleum and a symbol of love that permeates every corner here. The Taj Mahal has a giant 170m high central dome, four smaller domes, a giant spacious courtyard, four huge slightly tilted minarets, great Islamic design with marble details, calligraphic embellishments, and more. Standing at the main entrance of the complex, you immediately feel all its grandeur and size.
Colosseum in Rome
The Colosseum in Rome is laced with historical heritage on every wall, façade or stone. The true scale of this arena is quite impressive even in our time, and during the time of the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago, it was a real engineering marvel at all. The Colosseum was the largest amphitheater in the world, the center of numerous gladiator battles, where all the Roman nobility gathered. A long network of caves and tunnels stretches under the building, and the outer wall of the Colosseum with its numerous arches, floors and columns is considered one of the symbols of Rome and Italy.
Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is only a small part of the entire complex of the Pisa Cathedral, but the most famous. The rounded tower, with a series of spiraling balconies all along its façade, is pale in color with many shades. It is surrounded by many lawns and has a courtyard. The tower has a great Romanesque architectural design, but that's not what it's known for. This tilts almost 4 degrees, giving the visual illusion of falling. This is used by numerous tourists, taking pictures against the backdrop of the famous building.
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous buildings in Australia and around the world because it is a real work of art and a masterpiece of art. This is cultural symbol country, as well as one of the most visited attractions in Sydney. The Sydney Opera House hosts numerous art, opera and music events. The remarkable architectural vista, location right next to the water on one side and modern skyscrapers on the other, makes this outstanding opera house one of the most famous buildings in the world.
Empire State Building
Symbol of the state of New York and the United States, the Empire State Building is one of compulsory places to visit in the city that never sleeps. The skyscraper will impress you with its many colors, pure Art Deco shapes, historical structures and of course its impressive height. It rises almost 450 meters above the Manhattan skyline, dotted with numerous windows. At the top is an observation deck that opens up the magnificent skyline of Manhattan. At sunset, you can admire them for hours.
The Eiffel Tower
Topping the list of the most popular buildings in the world is not a building at all, but a tower. The Eiffel Tower is undoubtedly the most popular building in the world. It is located in the center of Paris and is a symbol of the city and France, as well as one of the tallest structures throughout the continent and one of the most popular and visited attractions in the world. The tower is distinguished by its history, many spans, connections, arches, intricate details and other interesting elements that only emphasize its charm.
From modern and surreal skyscrapers, to historic structures that carry a huge cultural legacy, there are many interesting buildings, which can be visited during one of the following trips. These iconic buildings are located in the largest cities of the world, being part of their history. Such facilities are always surrounded by large shopping streets, cultural centers, modern entertainment complexes, so you will always find how to spend time here, in addition to exploring the most famous buildings peace.
A year ago, the great Zaha Hadid passed away, on such a sad occasion, we list the best buildings of our time and hope that something similar will someday appear in our country.
Evelyn Grace Academy, Brixton, 2010
In 2010, the architectural studio of Zaha Hadid, a British architect of Arab origin, opened a school in one of the districts of London. Brixton is far from the most prosperous area, serious unrest constantly arises in it, however, about $ 60 million was spent on construction and today 720 students attend this school. The main difficulty was to fit the design of a rather large complex into an already existing densely built-up area. The main thing in the school project was the creation of a special territory or space in which schoolchildren could play sports. The building itself represents 4 school institutions connected by special arches and passages. The building is built in a zigzag pattern in harmony with running tracks and sports fields. Classrooms are organized along wide corridors with double-height halls.
The architecturally unique building of the Evelyn Grace Academy High School was recognized as the best, and its architect Zaha Hadid received the main prize of the Stirling Prize - the highest award in the field of architecture and design in the UK since 1996.
Zaha Hadid was born in Iran but has been living in Britain for 30 years. In 2010, she received worldwide fame for the award, when her project was erected National Museum Arts MAXXI in Rome. On account of the architect, such buildings as: the Central building of the BMW plant in Leipzig, a sports complex for water sports in London, the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati in Ohio, the Opera House in Guangzhou, Hoenheim-North Station and the parking lot in Strasbourg and much more. It is noteworthy that Zaha considers his task in architecture to be the creation of architectural structures that can positively influence people's lives, their behavior, education, and well-being.
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, 1997
The building of this unusual contemporary art museum was designed by American-Canadian architect Frank Gehry. It opened to the public in 1997 and was immediately recognized as one of the most spectacular deconstructivist buildings in the world.
The place for the museum was chosen very well. On the one hand, one of the main streets of the city approaches it, and on the other, a bridge over the Nervion River adjoins. Thus, the museum is located in the very center of the city and at the intersection of its most important streets. locals compare the building with a futuristic interplanetary ship, as well as with a bird, an airplane, Superman, an artichoke and a blossoming rose. By the way, from afar, the building really resembles a blossoming flower, from the middle of which curved petals of various shapes diverge, in which the enfilades of exhibition halls are located.
St Mary Ax, London, 2003
This unusual office was designed by the famous architect Norman Foster. It is located at number 30 on St. Mary Ax Street, for which it received the name Mary Ax Skyscraper. In the common people, they called him a gherkin - a cucumber, for unusual shape. This building has been awarded several prestigious awards in the field of architecture, and in 2004 it became the best skyscraper in the world.
The cucumber has 40 floors. Made in the form of a mesh shell with a central support base. Its creator, Norman Foster, set out to create the most environmentally friendly skyscraper, so he made the most of solar lighting and natural ventilation. As a result, the Gherkin consumes half as much electricity as other similar buildings. The lower floors of the building are open to all, and the upper floors are full of restaurants with an extraordinary panorama of financial London.
Burj Khalifa, Dubai, 2010
Since 2008, this stalactite-shaped building has been the tallest skyscraper in the world. During its construction, the design height was kept in the strictest confidence. And if somewhere they began to build such a tall building, adjustments would be made to the construction of Burj Haliva immediately. The exact height of the structure is 828 m, it has 163 floors, and about $ 1.5 billion was spent on construction.
From the very beginning, the complex was designed as a city within a city, with its own lawns, boulevards and parks. Inside it there is a hotel, apartments, offices and shopping centers. The air inside the building is not only cooled, but also aromatized thanks to special membranes. This fragrance was created especially for the Burj Khalifa. fragrant and Fresh air served through special grates in the floor. Its glasses do not allow dust to pass through and repel the sun's rays, allowing you to maintain the optimum temperature in the building. The surface area of the building is approximately equal to the area of 17 football fields. The windows of the Burj Khalifa are washed daily, but it takes about three months to wash the entire surface.
Bird's Nest Stadium, Beijing, 2008
The stadium project for the upcoming 2008 Olympics was proposed by Swiss architects and winners of the prestigious Pritzker Prize, Jacques Herzog and Pierre De Meuron. And after its opening, it became the benchmark for a new generation of stadiums and the most ambitious project in the history of the Olympic Games.
The stadium is made in the form of a crow's nest, which in Chinese culture symbolizes all that is good and kind. So its conceptual message was that it would become a symbol of new life, comfort, kindness, a cradle of new achievements and records. The stadium is made up of twenty steel frames one and a half meters in cross section, connected by many narrower lintels, and the roof is made sliding. total area nest is 258,000 sq. m and has 91,000 seats. It is noteworthy that not a single vertical pillar was involved in its construction.
Dancing house in Prague, 1996
Not quite an ordinary office building in the Czech capital is made in the style of deconstructivism. This house has many names: the drunk house, the glass, the waltz house, and Ginger and Fred, after the couple Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. One of the two cylindrical parts, which expands upward, symbolizes a man (Fred), and the other visually resembles a female figure with a thin waist and a skirt fluttering in dance (Ginger)
The history of the Dancing House is interesting. The building, which was located in its place, was destroyed during the bombing in 1945, after which the place was empty for almost half a century. And then Czech President Vaclav Havel decided to intervene, who owned a house next to the wasteland, built by his grandfather. The new building was designed by Vlado Milunić, a Czech architect with Croatian roots, but the insurance company that bought the land demanded that some well-known Western architect be involved in the project. The choice fell on Canadian-American deconstructivist architect and Pritzker Prize winner Frank Gehry.
Initially, Czech conservatives were critical of the appearance of an architectural structure so unusual for Prague, but over time they recognized it as one of the outstanding works of architecture of the 20th century.
Opera House, Sydney, 1973
Once upon a time there was an old military fort on this site, then a tram depot, and since 1973 there is one of the most famous and recognizable buildings in the world, which was opened on October 20, 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II of England herself. For its unusual shape, the Sydney theater has been compared to a whale washed up on the shore, the frozen music that Goethe wrote about, with nine big ears and a fabulous galleon departing for the land of elves, and even with nine nuns who play football.
In the early 1950s, an international competition was held in Australia for the construction of a new opera house. No one yet unknown architect from Denmark Jorn Utzon presented his new project, based on the traditions of the Aztec temples, outwardly similar to a huge sailboat, surrounded by water on three sides. His project was recognized as the most daring and became the winner, but it immediately became clear that there was a lot of work to be done. It was planned that its construction would take 4 years, but it took them as many as 14. This was mainly due to the construction of the roof, which at that time had no analogues. A whole year was spent only on computer design and calculations. As a result, the roof was raised and covered with more than a million tiles in white and beige. From a distance it seems that the roof is perfectly white, but under different lighting its color changes significantly.
Millennium Bridge, Gateshead, 2001
This bridge crosses the River Tyne and is the world's first tilting bridge. Its authors, architects Wilkinson and Eyre, were tasked with creating a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that would not interfere with large ships passing along the river.
The construction of this bridge was the largest engineering project with a budget of $40 million, which was implemented over two years. Its steel structure was hauled 10 kilometers upriver by the Asiatic Hercules, Europe's largest floating crane. The opening of the Millennium Bridge took place in 2001. It consists of two arches, one of them rises above the surface of the water, pedestrians and cyclists move along the other at this time, and ships of small height can pass under it. When a large ship approaches the bridge, both arches as a whole turn 40 ° around the axis connecting their ends: the pedestrian-bicycle deck of the bridge rises, while the upper arch, on the contrary, falls. The turn lasts no more than 4.5 minutes, depending on the wind speed. Thus, the bridge rises about 200 times a year and every time this spectacle attracts the attention of hundreds of spectators.
Lloyd's Building, London, 1980
In 1978, the rapidly growing insurance company Lloyd announced a competition for a new large building that would accommodate its further growth and expansion. The competition was won by British architect Richard Rogers, after which he created a modern static and flexible structure.
The author's idea was to build a cylindrical steel building filled with water to make it fireproof. However, this plan was difficult to implement and had to be abandoned in favor of a concrete structure with an open space that is left empty by the fact that all services are housed in six towers with shiny steel cladding and glass elevators. By the way, these elevators were the first of their kind in the UK.
In the distant 80s, the building made a splash, which, in fact, was part of the developers' plans. And the main shocking element of the contemporaries was the inverted structure of the building, all the functional elements of which were brought out: water, gas, heat pipelines, wiring, elevators and stairs entangle it from all sides. And even the toilets are outside. Such a radical transfer of all service devices to the outer walls was due to the need to expand the internal space. It was assumed that the body of the building will be able to meet the needs of the company for more than half a century.
Arch Defense, Paris, 1989
The Grand Arch of Defense is the symbol of the business district of Defense, located in the west of Paris. Below it is a metro station, the side columns are occupied by government and commercial offices, and the upper floors are reserved for exhibition spaces, where exhibitions are regularly held and the Museum of Informatics is open.
The construction of the arch was initiated by President Francois Mitterrand, whose goal was to continue the historical axis of Paris, which led from the Louvre through the obelisk on the Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe. In the design competition, the strangest one, the author of which was the Danish architect Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, won. This arch was conceived as a modern response to the famous Arc de Triomphe, with only one difference - it was dedicated not to military victories, but to humanistic ideals. Unfortunately, the creator of this colossal construction failed to complete his offspring. The arch was completed after his death. An interesting fact is that many Parisians still think that the futuristic arch was built quite recently, although in fact it has been decorating the French capital for more than twenty years.
