Popular architectural structures. The most famous architects in the world and their creations. "White City" on Belorusskaya
Buildings are among the most impressive works of art. After spending untold sums on construction, you can walk around completed projects and even live inside. Insider has collected 30 structures that stagger the imagination.
The oldest surviving building on Earth is Göbekli Tepe in Turkey. Its age is estimated to be at least the ninth millennium BC. Archaeologists are unsure of the purpose of Göbekli Tepe. Most likely, the building had a religious significance.
Since then, mankind has managed to build many cool structures. For example, just last year the futuristic Fulton Center in New York opened...
...and Penley Grammar School and Essendon in Melbourne, Australia.
The amazing Golden Temple in Amritsar, India seems to have grown straight out of the waters of the Amritsar River.
At night, the religious center of the Sikhs looks just amazing.
The Las Lajas Church in Nariño, Colombia, is at first baffling because the structure seems to defy gravity.
Modernist architect Antonio Gaudi did not live to see the completion of the Sagrada Familia - in fact, its construction continues to this day. From the outside, the temple resembles houses from the Chronicles of Narnia...
...and its interior is even more surreal.
The Flatiron Building was one of the first skyscrapers in New York...
...as was the Woolworth Building, the tallest building in the world between 1913 and 1930.
In Onomichi, Japan, young couples often hold their wedding ceremonies in the Ribbon Chapel ("Ribbon Chapel").
In Seoul, surrounded by greenery, the Light of Life Church rises.
Inside, she looks completely different.
The design of the Marina City skyscrapers in Chicago is, to put it mildly, unique. Built in 1964, they were among the first mixed-use buildings. For the first time in the United States, a high-rise crane was used in construction.
But not all buildings aim for the sky. Church Temppeliaukio, Helsinki, Finland, carved into the rock under the ground, while receiving enough sunlight.
The Church of Saint George in Lalibela, Ethiopia, was carved from a single boulder in the 12th century.
Some of the most beautiful buildings are part of the landscape. Turninn in Reykjavik reflects the wild beauty of Iceland.
Modernist Ludwig Mies van der Rohe used edges and open space to create masterpieces that seem to float in the air - like the New National Gallery in Berlin, built in the 1960s.
In addition, Berlin is home to the mecca of electronic music, the brutal nightclub Berghain.
Unity with the environment is one of the oldest concepts in architecture. The ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto houses the breathtaking Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji)...
...and the equally stunning Silver.
The Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali is the largest mud structure in the world. It can accommodate 3 thousand believers.
The whimsical Center Pompidou in Paris is a masterpiece of postmodernism.
Built around 1200, Chartres Cathedral in northern France is an excellent example of Gothic architecture. Pay attention to the richly decorated "portals" leading to the building...
...and an amazing organ inside.
Perhaps the only religious building that can compare with it in grandeur is the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Its construction was completed at the beginning of the 17th century and coincided with the heyday of the Ottoman Empire.
More than 20,000 handmade tiles are used in interior decoration.
Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria is believed to have inspired Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Trinity College is the gem of Dublin University.
It is famous for its library, the most amazing room of which has the characteristic name "Long Room".
The Imperial Palace - aka the Forbidden City - is the highest form of Chinese architecture.
Between 1420 and 1912 the palace served as the seat of government.
Its interior is truly impressive...
...as well as the attention to detail.
Today, the most exotic examples of modern architecture can be seen in Beijing. For example, the CCTV Tower, also known as "Pants".
With the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the late Zaha Hadid did what only she could do - transforming the rigid, clean lines of modernism into something organic.
High in the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu is the finest example of Inca architecture.
Archaeologists believe that the city was built around 1450.
A more detailed photo of the residential area.
In 2007, Parque Biblioteca España opened in Medellin, Colombia. Its design was designed by Colombian architect Giancarlo Mazzanti. Three buildings should look like stones.
The library, located in the Santo Domingo Savio district, overlooks Medellin itself, lying in a valley surrounded by the Andes.
The Sydney Opera House is rightfully considered a cult representative of Australian architecture.
Designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon and opened in 1973, the theater has become a literal canvas for social expression.
Its interior is also amazing.
Some of the most beautiful buildings in the world fascinate and captivate with their intricate shapes and configurations. Undoubtedly, these architectural structures deserve the highest praise and special attention. Let's dwell on the 25 most outstanding, built in various parts of the globe.
Burj Al Arab Hotel - Dubai
Burj Al Arab is considered the tallest hotel in the world. This 7-star 60-story building is built on a private artificial island on Jumeirah Beach. The hotel is built in the form of a sailboat, it is located at an altitude of 321 m above sea level.
Inside the building, there is a stunning design: many dancing fountains, huge aquariums, luxurious apartments with gilded decoration.
Catherine Palace - St. Petersburg
In the city of Pushkin near St. Petersburg, there is another beautiful building with a bright blue facade: the baroque palace of Catherine the Great. Crowds of tourists visit this magnificent structure to admire it, as well as the famous Amber Room, one of the wonders of the world. Particularly impressive is the graceful wing of the palace in the classical style, which was designed by the architect of Catherine II - Charles Cameron.
Guggenheim Museum - Bilbao, Spain
American architect Frank Gehry designed the Guggenheim Museum, which is located in Spain. The most innovative ideas of architecture of the 20th century intertwined in the bold contours of the building. The building, with an area of 24 thousand m2, is a landmark with an innovative design. The museum has radically changed the view of modern architecture. During the construction of the building, titanium was used with lines that change color in the sun.
Great Mosque - Djenne, Mali
South of the Sahara is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world - a mosque built by African tribes from clay bricks. The architectural complex was built in 1906 and is the largest structure in the world that is built entirely of mud. In 1988, the mosque was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
Sagrada Familia - Barcelona, Spain
One of the main attractions of Spain, the symbol of Barcelona is Sagrada Familia or Sagrada Familia, which was designed by Antoni Gaudí. The architect spent 40 years building this Gothic cathedral. After the death of Gaudi, his associates continued to build the temple, it is worth noting that work continues to this day. According to the project, the completion of the construction of the church is expected in 2026.
Taj Mahal, India
This majestic building is located in India, on the southern bank of the Yamuna River. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum complex that took 20 years to build. In its construction, white marble was used, which changes color depending on the sunlight or moonlight. The building was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. The Taj Mahal is considered to be one of the most magnificent buildings in the world.
Wat Rong Khun - Thailand
Wat Rong Khun or "White Temple" is one of the most famous temples in Thailand. The uniqueness of the building is that it stands out for its crystal whiteness and sparkles in the sun. The temple was designed by a famous Thai artist. The building is yet to be improved. It is assumed that there will be nine buildings with halls for relics, meditation and living quarters for the monks.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque - UAE
One of the largest mosques in the world, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi is built of marble and can accommodate 40,000 people. The building was completed in 2007. White marble, brought from 28 countries of the world, was used in its construction. In the main hall there is a huge lamp weighing 9 tons, decorated with Swarovski crystals.
Church of the Savior on Blood - Russia
The Church of the Savior on Blood is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and is located in St. Petersburg. The impressive church began to be built in 1883. The majestic building is decorated with colorful towers, interiors with mosaics and unique exterior decoration.
Golden Temple - Amritsar, India
The Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is a stunning building in India, erected in the middle of a lake. The building was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The style of the temple features Hindu and Muslim architecture, which is enhanced by the reflection in the water. It is believed that the building is a holy place and, being here, one must pray.
Shanghai Tower - China
The Shanghai Tower is one of the tallest and most beautiful buildings in the country. It surpasses in height even such buildings as the Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center. The height of the building is about 650 meters, and the total area is 380 thousand square meters.
World Trade Center 1 or "Freedom Tower" - New York, USA
The "Freedom Tower" in New York is the centerpiece of the World Trade Center in Manhattan. It was built on the site of the twin towers destroyed in the terrorist attack. The tower is the tallest building in the US.
Lotus Temple - Delhi, India
The Lotus Temple in New Delhi is one of the most beautiful temples in India. Designed by Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba. Previously, on the site of the building there was a mystical settlement of Baha Pur - "Bach's Dwelling". The second name of the Bahai temple is Lotus - the Mother of all temples on the Hindustan peninsula. Its magnificence has earned it many awards in architecture.
Grand Lisboa Casino Hotel - China
The Grand Lisboa was designed by renowned Hong Kong architects Dennis Lau and Ng Chun Meng. This impressive skyscraper with a height of 260 meters has 58 floors! Gaming establishments in the building began their work in February 2007. The entire surface of the hotel-casino is a screen of complex configuration. This solution is considered innovative.
Cathedral Mosque of Cordoba - Spain
The Cathedral Mosque of Cordoba in Spain is decorated with intricate patterns, mosaic ornaments and openwork columns. A few centuries ago, an ancient Roman temple stood on this site, then a Visigothic church, and in 785 Mesquita appeared. The pilgrimage to Cordoba was even equated with the obligatory hajj for every Muslim to Mecca.
St. Peter's Basilica - Vatican City, Italy
St. Peter's Basilica - one of the main attractions of the Vatican - is rightfully considered the heart of the Vatican and the entire Catholic world. From a bird's eye view, stunning views of ancient Rome open up, and from the top of the dome you can admire the interior of the cathedral.
Bayon Temple Complex - Siem Reap, Cambodia
Bayon is one of the most amazing temples located on the territory of Angkor Thom and was its religious center. The “highlight” of Bayon is the towers with many faces carved from stone, silently looking from a height on the vast territory of Angkor Thom, and in the heyday of the state - on the entire Khmer Empire. Initially, there were 54 towers, which symbolized the 54 provinces under the rule of the king. Today, only about 37 towers have survived.
Shwedagon Pagoda - Yangon, Myanmar
One of the most majestic and spiritual buildings in Myanmar is the Shwedagon Pagoda. The entire complex is located on an area of more than five hectares. In addition to the main building, there are many sculptural images of mythical and real animals around it: golden griffins, elephants, dragons and lions.
Australian War Memorial - Canberra
The Australian War Memorial is the main memorial dedicated to the memory of soldiers who died during the First and Second World Wars. Today it is considered one of the most significant monuments of its kind in the world. The memorial is located near the Parliament building, from the balcony of which a panoramic view of the monument opens.
Mall - Las Vegas, USA
The Fashion Show Mall is the only large mall of its kind in Las Vegas. On the territory of the building there are 250 boutiques, shops and six department stores of famous brands. The center opened in 1981, over the years it has grown to 175 thousand square meters. There is also a huge hall for fashion shows.
Music Building - China
This creative building called Piano House was built in China according to the project of architecture students. The building consists of two parts depicting two instruments - a transparent violin resting on a translucent piano.
The original building was built for music lovers, but it has nothing to do with music. There is an escalator in the violin, and an exhibition complex in the piano.
Siena Cathedral - Italy
According to the legend of the chroniclers, at the beginning of the 13th century, the inhabitants of the city-state of Siena, which acted as the main rival and opponent of Florence, “called on their leaders to build a temple more magnificent than that of their neighbors.” Thus, in the period from 1215 to 1263, the Duomo of Siena was founded on the site of the old temple according to the plan of the Gothic master Niccolò Pisano. Today this majestic temple is the main attraction of the city.
Milan Cathedral (Duomo) - Milan, Italy
One of the significant places in Milan is the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria Nashente (Duomo), which was built from 1386 to the beginning of the 19th century. The attraction is the third largest Catholic church, which is even considered one of the wonders of the world. Its hundred-meter spiers rise above the center of Milan, and the golden statue of the Madonna on the longest spire (four meters high) is visible from many parts of the city.
Sydney Opera House - Australia
The Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. Its architect was the Dane Jorn Utzon. Having designed the original roofs, somewhat reminiscent of shells, he made Sydney a magnificent gift - a symbol of the city. Today, every tourist, planning to visit Australia, must include an excursion to the majestic opera house in the program of his trip.
Angkor Wat - Siem Reap, Cambodia
The Cambodian temple of Angkor Wat is one of the largest places of worship ever built. It was built almost 9 centuries ago. It is located on an area of 200 hectares and is surrounded by a moat 190 meters wide. A temple was built in honor of the god Vishnu, who is revered in this area.
These buildings are known all over the world, they are admired, admired and idolized. These are the visiting cards of cities, let's take another look at these historical buildings:
The Moscow Kremlin is the largest fortress in Europe, preserved and operating to this day, located in the oldest part of Moscow, the main socio-political, historical and artistic complex of the city, the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation. It is located on the high left bank of the Moskva River - Borovitsky Hill, at the confluence of the Neglinnaya River. In plan, the Kremlin is an irregular triangle with an area of 27.5 hectares (ha).
The Taj Mahal in India is located near Agra. In its outward stately appearance, it resembles a temple, but in fact it is a mausoleum built in honor of the second wife of Shah Jahan - Mumtaz Mahal (otherwise Arjumand Bano Begum). It is indeed a very beautiful building. No description, photo or video can convey the true beauty of this structure. The architecture of the building conveys a mixture of Indian, Persian and Islamic architecture.
Sydney Opera House (Sydney Opera House) - one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings in the world, at the same time is a symbol of Australia's largest city. It is considered one of the main attractions of the continent - the sail-like shells that form the roof make this building unlike any other in the world. The Sydney Opera House is recognized as one of the outstanding buildings of modern architecture in the world and since 1973 has been, along with the Harbor Bridge, the hallmark of Sydney. Since June 28, 2007, this building has been under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a bell tower, part of the ensemble of the city's Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Pisan Cathedral) in the city of Pisa, which has gained worldwide fame due to its inadvertent tilt. The tilt of the tower, caused by the softness of the soil, occurred as the construction ended in 1360. The “tilt” process ended only in 2008. The tower has 294 steps. The height of the tower is 55.86 m from the ground on the lowest side and 56.7 m on the highest side. The diameter of the base is 15.54 m. Its mass is estimated at 14,453 tons. The current slope is 3°
The Empire State Building is a 102-story building located in New York City on the island of Manhattan. It is an office building. From 1931 to 1970, it was one of the tallest buildings in the world, until the opening of the north tower of the World Trade Center. He regained this status again after the tragedy of 2001 (the collapse of the World Trade Center). The architecture of the building belongs to the Art Deco style.
The Eiffel Tower is the most famous architectural landmark of Paris, known as a symbol of France, erected on the Champ de Mars and named after its designer Gustaf Eiffel. It is the most recognizable and tallest building in Paris, its height, together with the new antenna, is 324 meters, which is approximately the same as a house of 81 floors. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 and has an amazing origin story. In 1889, in Paris, in memory of the centenary of the French Revolution, the World Exhibition was held, it was thanks to the exhibition that the city authorities instructed to invent and erect a temporary structure serving as its entrance arch.
The Colosseum is a symbol of strength, power and the age-old history of Rome, one of the most famous sights in Italy. It is considered the most beautiful and largest stadium of the ancient world, built in the first century AD. e. in the form of an amphitheatre. The construction of this grandiose structure began after numerous victories by the emperor Vespasian in Judea. The construction lasted 11 years, during which they did the impossible - quality, a complete emergency and the introduction of advanced, unthinkable at that time technologies - a conveyor.
Big Ben is the world-famous clock tower of the Palace of Westminster in London. Meetings of the House of Lords and the House of Commons are held in the Palace of Westminster, it is easy to lose the right direction in the multi-kilometer corridors of the palace, there is hardly a person who has visited all of its 1200 rooms, but the most famous part of the palace - the clock tower - is known, without exaggeration, to everyone world and is one of the brightest architectural symbols of the city. The height of the tower is 96 meters, inside it hides a narrow spiral staircase of 334 steps.
Burj Al Arab (Burj Al Arab) - translated from Arabic means "Arab Tower", which Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum gave him, rightfully occupies the highest position in the list of the most luxurious hotels in the world. The best designers in the world worked on the interior of the Burj Al Arab hotel in order to emphasize its exclusive luxury. To furnish the rooms and halls of the hotel, they used about 1590 m² of 999 gold foil, as well as the best varieties of marble, precious and semi-precious stones, precious woods and the finest leather. The building rises 321 meters above an artificial island, poured specifically for its construction in the early 90s, 280 meters from the coastline, its appearance resembles a sail installed on traditional Arab ships. Creating a sail for the Burj Al Arab hotel was a truly amazing and time-consuming process.
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Built at the end of the 15th century by the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti. For three centuries it was the main temple of the Muscovite state. The oldest fully preserved building in Moscow. Fragments of the original frescoes made by the icon painter Dionysius remained on the walls. In 1547, Ivan the Terrible was crowned here for the first time. Later, all Russian emperors were crowned in this temple, starting with Peter II. In 1918, the cathedral was closed, in 1955 it was opened as a museum, and in 1990 services were resumed on solemn days.
Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye
The first hipped temple in Russia, built in 1528-1532. The architect of the church was supposedly the Italian Peter Francis Gannibal, but in the Russian chronicles Peter Fryazin or Petroko Maly is listed. According to legend, the construction of the temple is associated with the birth of Ivan IV, the long-awaited heir to the Grand Duke.
The interior of the temple has not been preserved. In the 16th century, the church was renovated, after which the floor of white and gray ceramic tiles was damaged and laid upside down. At the same time, the royal gates that have survived to this day appeared near the temple. The last restoration was carried out in 2002-2005, as a result of which the wooden structures of the roofs over the porches were completely destroyed.
Yaroslavsky railway station
In 1862, a small station of the Yaroslavl railway was built between the Red Pond and the Nikolaevsky railway station. In 1900, the Ministry of Railways entrusted the architect Lev Kekushev with a radical restructuring of the passenger hall, and then Fyodor Shekhtel was invited to correct his project. A high, like in ancient Russian towers, a roof with a crest crowning it, a wide frieze belt made of shimmering green-brown glazed tiles, majolica inserts with plots based on the "northern" drawings of Shekhtel, a side left tower directed upwards, a giant entrance arch of the vestibule with semicircular pylons - turrets on the sides and a keel-visor. In a deep niche of the pediment under this visor, there were relief symbols of the three great cities that were connected by the Yaroslavl (Northern) railway: the coat of arms of Moscow - George the Victorious, the coat of arms of Yaroslavl - a bear with an ax, the coat of arms of Arkhangelsk - the Archangel Michael defeating the devil.
Metropol Hotel
In the place where the Metropol is now located, since the 1830s there has been a three-story hotel with baths of the merchant Chelyshev (Muscovites called it Chelyshi), designed by Osip Bove. In the 1890s, Savva Mamontov bought the hotel and adjacent plots of land to implement his innovative idea: he planned to organize a grandiose cultural and leisure center in Moscow. The project did not provide for the demolition of the old hotel, but its radical restructuring. A galaxy of well-known and talented architects and artists worked on the creation of the hotel complex. Paintings and elements of interior decor were made according to sketches by V. Vasnetsov and K. Korovin. In contrast to the facades, designed in strict stylistic unity, the interior decoration is characterized by polystylism: there are interiors in the pseudo-Russian style and in the spirit of neoclassicism.
Profitable house Tarkhova
The profitable house at the corner of Podsosensky and Kazarmennoye lanes was built according to the project of the architect G. I. Makaev in 1903-1904. (The second famous building in Moscow by the same architect is the north wing of the Polytechnic Museum.) The house is an expressive example of the northern modern style and is known as the "house with poppies." Poppies are one of the favorite motifs of Art Nouveau, a symbolic expression of the fact that life is a dream.
During the Soviet era, the apartments were turned into communal apartments, which were resettled in the 1990s. Despite the fact that the building is considered an object of cultural heritage of regional importance, its facades are in disrepair.
Pepper House
Pertsova's house in Moscow was built by the architects N. K. Zhukov and B. N. Schnaubert in 1905-1907 according to the sketches of the artist S. V. Malyutin, the author of the Russian nesting dolls. As planned, Pertsova's Moscow tenement house, also known as the Fairy Tale House, was supposed to be a work of art in itself. The building has an unusual and complex shape, the facade is decorated with rich decor, asymmetrical windows, balconies and tower-like ledges. Old Russian motifs and patterns were used to decorate the house.
Kremlin wall
The most concise and recognizable of the architectural symbols of Moscow is to reproduce the silhouette of the upper part of the wall with dovetail-type battlements in combination with the uncompromisingly red color of burnt brick, even a child can do. The wall is one of the oldest buildings in the city. The Milanese architects, who supervised its construction at the end of the 15th century, took as a basis the battlements of the castles of the Italian Ghibellines, opponents of papal authority. Simple rectangular battlements distinguished the style of the fortresses of the papist-Guelphs, and therefore they were in no way suitable for the citadel of the Orthodox faith.
Insurance company "Russia"
Two buildings of this elegant residential building on Sretensky Boulevard were built in 1899-1902 by architects N. M. Proskurin and A. I. von Gauguin. The house was originally built for a very wealthy audience. A ventilation system was installed that not only supplied fresh air to the premises, but also filtered and moistened it. To ensure uninterrupted power supply, a private power plant was installed in the basement, and eight boilers provided heating. An artesian well 50 meters deep was also drilled for water supply at the house. As befits, the posh house had both electric elevators and a laundry room for residents. Many of the upper apartments had glass ceilings, which was especially appreciated by the artists.
South entrance of the Krasnye Vorota metro station
An early or first exit from the Krasnye Vorota metro station was opened along with the station on May 15, 1935, as part of the first launch section of the Sokolniki Moscow Metro - Park Kultury. The above-ground vestibule is located along the axis of the Red Gate, dismantled in 1928, and is made in the form of four hemispheres nested into each other according to the project of the architect N.A. Ladovsky. Many Muscovites call this exit "shell". In 1938, the exit project and the station itself were awarded the Grand Prix of the International World's Fair in Paris. In 1952, the first turnstile in the history of the metro was installed in the lobby. In 1986, Lermontovskaya became the first Moscow metro station to get its historical name back.
The building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
One of the seven "Stalin skyscrapers". The building was built in the period from 1948 to 1953 according to the project of architects V. G. Gelfreikh and M. A. Minkus and designers S. D. Gomberg and G. M. Limanovsky. The height is 172 meters. Initially, the building was erected without a spire, but on the orders of Stalin in 1952, the final cascade in the form of a decorative spire was completed in two weeks (the visual discrepancy between the elements of the facade and the spire is clearly visible from Smolenskaya Square). The building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has become a model for all other Moscow skyscrapers.
"White City" on Belorusskaya
The first phase of the business center was built in 2006-2009. According to the plan, the white-stone church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was to become the fundamental element of the complex, in which large-scale restoration work was carried out with the assistance of construction investors. The complex consists of two 15-storey and one 6-storey building. Two more towers are planned to be completed in 2013. In the center of the "White Square" there is a light and music fountain. It is planned that soon live concerts and open-air exhibitions will be held here.
North River Station
The building of the river station was built simultaneously with the Moscow canal even before the Khimki reservoir (on the bank of which it is located) was filled in 1937 according to a joint project of architects A. M. Rukhlyadev, V. F. Krinsky, sculptors I. S. Efimov and artist N I. Danko. The station was conceived as a symbol of Moscow - the "port of five seas". The building is made in the form of a large ship. The spire is crowned with a star, which was on the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin in 1935-1937. The hammer and sickle are inlaid with Ural gems. From the Northern River Station you can go on a cruise on routes to St. Petersburg, Astrakhan, Rostov-on-Don. Pleasure boats depart from the pier to the Bay of Joy and Troitsky.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The largest Catholic cathedral in Russia, the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God, headed by Archbishop Metropolitan Paolo Pezzi. One of the two active Catholic churches in Moscow, along with the Church of St. Louis of France (1830, architect Gilardi). The temple was built in 1901-1911 (finishing was completed later). The author of the project is F. O. Bogdanovich-Dvorzhetsky. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a neo-Gothic three-nave cruciform pseudo-basilica. It is believed that for the architect the prototype of the facade was the Gothic cathedral in Westminster Abbey, and the prototype of the dome was the dome of the cathedral in Milan. Since 2009, the educational course "Western European Sacred Music", dedicated to Gregorian chant and organ improvisation, has been held within the walls of the cathedral.
House of Culture named after Zuev
One of the brightest examples of constructivism. Named in honor of a participant in the uprising of 1905, a locksmith of the tram depot S. M. Zuev. Built in 1927-1929 on Lesnaya Street, designed by architect Ilya Golosov. The project was born under the influence of cubism and is built on a combination of asymmetrically arranged regular geometric bodies. The compositional center of the building is a vertical glass cylinder, on which, as it were, the entire building with unusually large window surfaces is “put on”.
Residential complex Copper House
Erected in 2003-2004. The complex was designed by architects S. Skuratov, V. Ryzhkov, N. Ishutina, Yu. Kovaleva, A. Medvedev, P. Karpovsky, P. Shalimov, N. Demidov and V. Danilov. As conceived by the authors, the composition of the building expressed the specifics of the area. The narrow, long building plot is played up as a metaphor for the transition: by connecting Zachatievsky Lane with Prechistenskaya Embankment, the house "builds bridges" to the shores of new domestic architecture. The architect Skuratov called the house "the Mannerheim line", which distinguished between intelligent architecture and products of domestic building practice. The Copper House residential building was accepted into the collection of the best buildings of 2003-2004 in the Museum of Architecture. Shchusev.
Profitable house of Isakov on Prechistenka
The house, built in 1904-1906 according to the project of the architect L. Kekushev, is one of the most striking examples of Art Nouveau in Moscow. During the construction of the house, Kekushev strove for maximum asymmetry and used all the possibilities of the site for this. As a result, the part of the building that overlooks the courtyard has six floors, and from the side of the street - five. The main staircase divides the building into front and back parts, which are offset from each other by half a floor in height. Thanks to this layout, each landing could be used to enter the apartment.
Shukhov Tower
The Moscow radio tower on Shabolovka was built in 1920-1922 by engineer V. G. Shukhov. The height of the tower is 148.3 meters, which is two times lower than the original project. However, at that time the tower was the tallest in Russia. The Shabolovskaya tower was built on the principle of mesh hyperboloid towers, which is a direct invention of Shukhov. Seventeen years after the opening of the tower, on March 10, 1939, a television program was broadcast from it for the first time - a documentary film about the opening of the XVIII Congress of the CPSU (b). The image of the Shukhov Tower was used as the emblem of Soviet television, in particular, the Blue Light program. In 1941, a mail plane crashed into the tower as a result of a malfunction, but due to its solid construction, the tower was not damaged. The tower has never been restored and is currently in need of expertise.
The history of the building begins in 1857. TSUM is designed in the Gothic style with elements of Art Nouveau. In the 1880s, the building was bought by Scottish merchants Andrew Muir and Archibald Merilize, the founders of the Muir and Merilize trading company. In 1908, a new building was built according to the project of the architect Roman Klein, the author of the project of the Museum of Fine Arts. A. S. Pushkin. For the first time in Russia, reinforced concrete was used during construction. The new method made it possible to dispense with the traditional wide columns and use iron and steel structures to significantly increase the window space. The building was last renovated in 2007.
Pashkov House
One of the main monuments of classicism in Moscow. Built in 1784-1786. It bears the name of the customer - Lieutenant of the Life Guards Semenovsky Regiment Pyotr Yegorovich Pashkov. The architect is presumably Vasily Bazhenov. A distinctive feature of the mansion is two main facades: one facing the roadway has a more solemn look, the second is a manor, more modest look, located in the courtyard. The original color of the building was orange, but under Emperor Paul the color was changed. Under him, the statue of Minerva was removed from the dome. In 1914, the architect Shevyakov built a double-height hall. In 1986, during the construction of the Borovitskaya metro station, Pashkov's house was damaged and was on the verge of destruction. Until 2007, it was under reconstruction. Today the building belongs to the Russian State Library.
Publishing house of I. D. Sytin "Russian Word"
The building was rebuilt in 1904-1906 from a mansion of the early 19th century. for Ivan Sytin, a Russian publisher and educator who produced mass editions of cheap editions of Russian and foreign classics. During the restructuring, the architect A. E. Erichson used the achievements of the construction technology of that time: reinforced concrete ceilings based on metal beams and load-bearing structures. The architect abandoned the corridors required for "office" places - instead of them, he designed spacious halls that unite large and bright rooms. The external design is complemented by a tiled frieze between the second and third floors, stucco female masks, patterned balconies lattices, made according to the sketches of the artist I. Bilibin. In 1979, during the reconstruction of Gorky Street, the house was moved 33.5 meters from the corner of Pushkin Square to Nastasinsky Lane and placed on a new foundation.
Old or new, with complex or simple structures, these buildings are undoubtedly the most incredible in the world. There are attractive, there are unusual, and there are just crazy buildings that do not look like anything. Sometimes it is even difficult to immediately understand what is in front of you - a house or something else?
Lotus Temple
(Delhi, India)
The main Bahai temple in India and neighboring countries, built in 1986. Located in New Delhi, the capital of India. A huge building made of snow-white Pentelian marble in the shape of a blossoming lotus flower is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Delhi. Known as the main temple of the Indian subcontinent and the main attraction of the city.
The Lotus Temple has won several architectural awards and has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles. In 1921, the young Bombay Baha'i community asked 'Abdu'l-Bahá for permission to build a Baha'i temple in Bombay, to which the answer was allegedly given: "By the will of God in the future, a majestic temple of worship will be erected in one of the central cities of India," that is, in Delhi. .
"Khan Shatyr"
(Astana, Kazakhstan)
A large shopping and entertainment center in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana (architect - Norman Foster). Opened on July 6, 2010, it is considered the largest tent in the world. The total area of "Khan Shatyr" is 127,000 m2. It houses retail and entertainment complexes, including a supermarket, a family park, cafes and restaurants, cinemas, gyms, a water park with an artificial beach and wave effect pools, service and office premises, parking for 700 cars and much more.
The highlight of "Khan Shatyr" is a beach resort with a tropical climate, plants and a temperature of + 35 ° C all year round. The sandy beaches of the resort are equipped with a heating system that creates the feeling of a real beach, and the sand was brought from the Maldives. The building is a giant tent 150 m high (spire), constructed from a network of steel cables, on which a transparent ETFE polymer coating is fixed. Thanks to its special chemical composition, it protects the interior of the complex from sudden temperature changes and creates a comfortable microclimate inside the complex. "Khan Shatyr" was included in the top ten world eco-buildings according to Forbes Style magazine, becoming the only building from all over the CIS, which the publication decided to include in its hit parade.
The opening of the Khan Shatyr shopping and entertainment center took place as part of the celebration of Astana Day with the participation of the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. During the opening ceremony, a concert was held by the world performer, the Italian tenor of classical music Andrea Bocelli. The most interesting thing is that any Tyumen citizen can visit this amazing place: it is only a nine-hour drive to Astana.
Guggenheim Museum
(Bilbao, Spain)
Designed by American architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Museum is a magnificent example of the most innovative architecture of the 20th century. Constructed from titanium, it is adorned with wavy lines that change color under the sun's rays. The total area is 24,000 m2, 11,000 of which are devoted to exhibitions.
The Guggenheim Museum is a true architectural landmark, a piece of daring configuration and innovative design that provides a seductive backdrop for the artwork it houses. This building has changed the world's view of modern architecture and museums and has become a symbol of the rebirth of the industrial city of Bilbao.
National Library
(Minsk, Belarus)
The history of the National Library of Belarus begins on September 15, 1922. On this day, the Belarusian State and University Library was founded by the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the BSSR. The number of readers has been constantly increasing. During its history, the library has changed several buildings, and soon it became necessary to build a new large and functional library building.
Back in 1989, a competition was held at the level of the republic for designing a new library building. The "glass diamond" by architects Mikhail Vinogradov and Viktor Kramarenko was recognized as the best. On May 19, 1992, by the Decree of the Council of Ministers, the Belarusian State Library received the status of a national library. On March 7, 2002, the president of the republic signed a decree on the construction of the building of the state institution "National Library of Belarus". But its construction began only in November 2002.
The opening ceremony of the "Belarusian diamond" took place on June 16, 2006. President of Belarus Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko (who, by the way, received a library card No. 1) noted at the opening ceremony that “this unique building combines the austere beauty of modern architecture and the latest scientific and technical solutions.” Indeed, the National Library of Belarus is a unique architectural, construction, software and hardware complex, built in accordance with the latest scientific and technical developments and aimed at meeting the information and socio-cultural needs of society.
The new building of the library has 20 reading rooms, which are designed for 2000 users. All halls are equipped with electronic departments for issuing documents, modern equipment that allows scanning and copying documents, printing from electronic copies. The halls have computerized workplaces, workplaces for visually impaired and blind users, equipped with special equipment.
crooked house
(Sopot, Poland)
In the Polish city of Sopot, on Heroes Monte Cassino Street, there is one of the most unusual houses on the planet - the Crooked House (in Polish - Krzywy Domek). It seems that it either melted in the sun, or it is an optical illusion, and this is not the house itself, but only its reflection in a huge crooked mirror.
A crooked house is really crooked and does not contain a single even place and corner. It was built in 2004 according to the project of two Polish architects - Shotinsky and Zalevsky - impressed by the drawings of the artists Jan Marcin Schanzer and Per Oskar Dahlberg. The main task of the authors before the customer, which was the Resident shopping center, was to create such an appearance of the building that would attract as many visitors as possible. A variety of materials were used in the design of the facade: from glass to stone, and the roof made of enameled plates resembles the back of a dragon. Doors and windows are equally asymmetrical and bizarrely curved, giving the house the appearance of some kind of fabulous hut.
The crooked house works around the clock. During the day, a shopping center, cafes and other establishments are open here, and in the evening - pubs and clubs. In the dark, the house becomes even more beautiful. In 2009, the building was recognized as one of the seven wonders of the Tricity, which includes the cities of Gdynia, Gdansk and Sopot. According to a recent poll by The Village of Joy, the Crooked House topped the list of the fifty most unusual buildings in the world.
teapot building
(Jiangsu, China)
In China, the construction of the cultural and exhibition center Wuxi Wanda Exhibition Center, made in the form of a clay teapot, is nearing completion. This building has already officially entered the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest teapot in the world. The choice of this form is not accidental: clay teapots have been considered symbols of the Celestial Empire since the 15th century. They are still produced in Jiangsu Province, where the Wuxi Wanda Exhibition Center is located. In addition to the manufacture of clay teapots, China is also famous for its elite varieties of tea.
Real estate developer The Wanda Group announced that it has spent 40 billion yuan ($6.4 billion) to build the cultural and exhibition center. The result is a structure with an area of 3.4 million m2, a height of 38.8 m and a diameter of 50 m. Outside, the building is sheathed with aluminum sheets, which provide the necessary curvature of the frame. In addition to them, stained-glass windows of various sizes play an important role.
Exhibition halls, a water park, a roller coaster, and a Ferris wheel will be located in the Wuxi Wanda center. In addition, each of the three floors of the building will be able to rotate on its own axis. The cultural and exhibition center is part of the Tourism City shopping and entertainment complex, the construction of which is planned to be completed by 2017.
"Habitat 67"
(Montreal, Canada)
An unusual residential complex in Montreal was designed by architect Moshe Safdie in 1966-1967. The complex was built for the start of the Expo 67 exhibition, one of the largest world exhibitions of that time, the theme of which was houses and residential construction.
The basis of the structure is 354 cubes built on top of each other. It was they who made it possible to create this gray building with 146 apartments, where families live who have exchanged a quiet house in a residential area for such a non-standard house. Most apartments on the roof of the neighbor downstairs have a private garden.
Brutalism is considered the building style. Habitat 67 was built over 45 years ago, but it still impresses with its scale. This is, without a doubt, one of the few modern utopias that not only came true, but also became very popular and was even recognized as elite.
dancing building
(Prague, Czech Republic)
Office building in Prague in the style of deconstructivism consists of two cylindrical towers: conventional and destructive. Jokingly called "Ginger and Fred", the Dancing House is an architectural metaphor for the dancing couple Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. One of the two cylindrical parts, which expands upward, symbolizes a male figure (Fred), and the second visually resembles a female figure with a thin waist and a skirt fluttering in dance (Ginger).
Like many deconstructivist buildings, the building contrasts sharply with its neighbor - an integral architectural complex of the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. The office center, which houses several international companies, is located in Prague 2, on the corner of Resslova Street and the embankment. On the roof there is a French restaurant with a view of Prague La Perle de Prague.
forest spiral building
(Darmstadt, Germany)
The Austrian genius Friedensreich Hundertwasser presented the unique building to the German city of Darmstadt in 2000. Painted in different colors, a magical house from a children's fairy tale with floating lines of a curved facade, it looks into the world with 1048 windows of non-repetitive shapes, sizes and decor. Real trees grow from some of the windows.
This original building in the form of a horseshoe, spiraling upwards, is called "an unusual house among the usual monotony." It was built in a "biomorphic" style, although, in fact, it is a real residential 12-storey complex, or rather, a kind of fabulous green village. It includes not only a house with 105 comfortable apartments, but also a quiet courtyard with artificial lakes, figured bridges and paths trodden right in the grass; artistically designed playgrounds; closed parking lots; shops; pharmacy and other elements of developed infrastructure.
upside down house
(Szymbark, Poland)
The unique house, which stands on the roof, is decorated in the socialist style of the 1970s. An upside-down house evokes strange sensations: the entrance is on the roof, everyone enters through the window, and the guests walk along the ceiling. The interior is decorated in the style of socialist realism: there is a lounge with a TV and chest of drawers. There is also a table made of the longest solid board in the world - 36.83 m. Of course, the Guinness Book of Records did not ignore him.
The construction of the building took more time and money than for the erection of a conventional house of the same size. The foundation required 200 m³ of concrete. The author of the project was asked many times if his project is related to commercial purposes. The answer was always a stubborn "no". However, the house-shifter turned out to be a commercial success.
Not only Poles, but also foreign tourists come to test their strength and look at an interesting building. Through the attic window, you can enter the house and, carefully maneuvering between the chandeliers, walk around the rooms. Some sources claim that the developer was going to use the new building as his own home. Whether this is so is not known, but the upside-down house in Shimbark did not become residential.
However, there is nothing to complain about: the line of tourists who want to walk inside does not dry out, so there would be no question of any quiet life. A few years ago, in the vicinity of the house, there was even a kind of gathering of local Santa Clauses, who not only discussed their problems, but also practiced getting inside the house through a pipe, since, fortunately, it rests on the ground.
Wat Rong Khun
(Chiang Rai, Thailand)
Wat Rong Khun, better known as the "White Temple", is considered one of the most recognizable temples in Thailand and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. The temple is located outside the city of Chiang Rai and attracts a large number of visitors, Thai and foreign. This is one of the most visited attractions in Chiang Rai and the most unusual Buddhist temple.
Wat Rong Khun looks like an ice house. Because of its color, the building is noticeable from afar, besides, it sparkles in the sun thanks to the interspersed pieces of glass in the plaster. The white represents the purity of the Buddha, while the glass symbolizes the wisdom of the Buddha and the Dharma, the Buddhist teachings. They say the best time to visit the White Temple is at sunrise or sunset, when it is beautifully reflected in the sun.
The construction of the temple began in 1997 and continues to this day. It is being built by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat using his own funds from the sale of paintings. The artist refused sponsors: he wants to make the temple the way only he wants.
basket building
(Ohio, USA)
The basket building was built in 1997. The weight of the structure is approximately 8500 tons, the weight of the supporting supports is 150 tons. Nearly 8,000 m3 of reinforced concrete was used in the construction. The usable area of the building is 180,000 square feet. The basket is located on the territory of about 20,000 square feet (approximately 2200 m2) and completely copies one of the trademarks of its owner.
When the architect of the project, Nikolina Georgievsha, found out about what was ahead of her, she exclaimed: “Wow! I have never done this before!" Indeed, this building cannot be called standard in any way. Unlike other buildings, it expands upwards. This made it possible to significantly increase the working space of the offices: the building is designed for a staff of 500 employees. Not bad, considering that the building also has a seven-story atrium with an area of 3300 m2, around which the offices are located. In addition, the first floor is occupied by a theater-like auditorium with 142 seats. The building claims to be a bit pompous: the design includes two slabs attached to the building with the owner's trademark, covered with 23 carat gold.
(Sanji, Taiwan)
The strange and wonderful town of Sanji in Taiwan is an abandoned resort complex. The houses in it were shaped like a flying saucer, so they were called UFO houses. The city was purchased as a resort for US military personnel serving in East Asia.
The original idea of building such houses belonged to the owner of the Sanjhih Township plastics company, Mr. Yu-Ko Chow. The first building license was issued in 1978. The design was developed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen. But in 1980, construction was halted when Yu-Chow declared himself bankrupt. All efforts to resume work came to nothing. In addition, several serious accidents occurred during construction due to the supposedly disturbed spirit of the mythical Chinese dragon (as superstitious people claimed). Many believed that the place was haunted. As a result, the village was abandoned and soon became known as a ghost town.
Stone house
(Fafe, Portugal)
House Casa do Penedo in the mountains of Portugal, erected between four boulders, resembles a Stone Age dwelling. Standing on the outskirts of the hut was built in 1974 by Vitor Rodriguez and was intended for relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The desire for simplicity did not make the members of the Rodriguez family hermits, but brought them closer to a natural lifestyle without frills. Electricity was never brought into the house; candles are still used for lighting. The room is heated with a fireplace carved into one of the boulders. The stone walls serve as a continuation of the interior decoration: even the steps leading to the second floor are carved right into the stones.
The stone hut, reminiscent of the dwelling of the characters from the American animated series The Flintstones, blended so seamlessly into the surrounding landscape that it aroused great interest among architects and tourists. The curiosity of local residents and passing travelers forced the Rodriguez family to leave the house. Now no one lives in the hut, but the owners sometimes visit their unusual house. Only in this case there is a chance to see unusual interiors, at other times it is impossible to get inside Casa do Penedo.
central Library
(Kansas City, Missouri, USA)
Located in the heart of Kansas City, this is one of the first projects to regenerate the city and its historical and tourist value. Residents were asked to remember the most famous books that are somehow connected with the name of Kansas City, and they selected twenty fiction books over the course of two years. The appearance of these titles was incorporated into the innovative design of the Central City Library to encourage visits.
The library building looks like a bookshelf, on which giant books are laid out. Each of them reaches a height of seven meters, and a width of about two. Now the library has at its disposal not only the most modern technologies and excellent quality of service, but also conference rooms, a cafe, an observation room and much more. The Kansas City Public Library has a unique architecture that boggles the imagination. Today it is the pride of the people of the city of Kansas. Its construction was one of the most significant events on the way to turning a provincial town into a prosperous metropolis. The library has ten branches, the main of which is the largest and has special funds. The library's arsenal is 2.5 million books, attendance is more than 2.4 million customers a year.
The history of the library begins in 1873, when it opened its doors to readers and immediately became not only a source of educational resources, but also an excellent alternative to other entertainment establishments of that time. The public library has moved many times, and in 1999 it was moved to the former building of the First National Bank. The century-old building was a real masterpiece of craftsmanship: marble columns, bronze doors and walls richly decorated with stucco. But still it required reconstruction. With the help of public-private partnerships, raised funds from the state and municipal budget, as well as sponsorship, the doors of the Kansas Public Library were opened in 2004 in the form in which it is now.
solar oven
(Odelio, France)
A stunning structure that looks like a furnace and, in fact, is one, the Solar Furnace in France is designed to generate and concentrate the high temperatures required for various processes. This happens by capturing the sun's rays and concentrating their energy in one place.
The structure is covered with curved mirrors, their radiance is so great that it is impossible to look at them. The structure was erected in 1970, the Eastern Pyrenees were chosen as the most suitable place. To this day, the Furnace remains the largest in the world. The mirror array functions as a parabolic reflector, and the high temperature regime at the focus itself can reach up to 3500°C. You can adjust the temperature by changing the angles of the mirrors.
Using a natural resource such as sunlight, the Solar Furnace is considered indispensable for obtaining high temperatures. And they, in turn, are used for various processes. Thus, the production of hydrogen requires a temperature of 1400°C. Test modes of spacecraft and nuclear reactors provide for a temperature of 2500°C, and without a temperature of 3500°C it is impossible to create nanomaterials. In a word, the Solar Furnace is not just an amazing building, but also a vital and efficient one. At the same time, it is considered an environmentally friendly and relatively cheap way to get high temperatures.
"Robert Ripley's House"
(Niagara Falls, Canada)
Ripley's House in Orlando is an illustration not of a technical revolution, but of a natural disaster. This house was built to commemorate the magnitude 8 earthquake that hit here in 1812.
Today, the supposedly cracked building is recognized as one of the most photographed in the world. "Believe it or not!" (Ripley's Believe It or Not!) is a patented network of so-called Ripley's Auditoriums (museums of strange and incredible things), of which there are more than 30 in the world.
The idea belongs to Robert Ripley (1890–1949), an American cartoonist, entrepreneur and anthropologist. The first traveling collection, Ripley's Auditorium, was presented in Chicago in 1933 during the World's Fair. On a permanent basis, the first museum "If you want - believe it, if you want - no!" was opened after the death of Ripley, in 1950 in Florida, in the city of St. Augustine. The Canadian museum of the same name was founded in 1963 in the city of Niagara Falls (Niagara Falls, Ontario) and still has a reputation as the best museum in the city. The Auditorium building was built in the form of a falling Empire State Building (New York) with King Kong standing on the roof.
shoe house
(Pennsylvania, USA)
The shoe house in Pennsylvania (York County) was conceived by a very successful businessman, Colonel Mahlon N. Heinz. At that time, he owned a thriving shoe company, which included about 40 shoe stores. At that time, Heinz was already 73 years old, but he loved his business so much that he commissioned an architect to create an unusual structure in the shape of a boot. This was in 1948. Already in 1949, the dream of a shoe businessman was realized, and the restless Mahlon N. Heinz was able not only to admire the extraordinary building, but also to settle there.
The length of this house is 12 m, height - 8. Its facade was made as follows: first a wooden frame was created, which was then poured with cement. Surprisingly, even the mailbox of this house is made in the shape of a shoe. There are shoes and bars on the windows and doors. Near the house there is a dog kennel, which was also made in the form of a boot. And even on the sign, located on the road, there are shoes. But in fact, the shoe house has such an orientation only from the outside. Inside, this is quite a comfortable dwelling, quite cozy and spacious. On the side of the house, there is an external staircase (most likely a fire escape) that allows access to all five tiers of the unusual building.
dome house
(Florida, USA)
After a series of devastating hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida (USA), which left Mark and Valeria Sigler homeless every time, they decided to build a house that could withstand the pressure of the elements and at the same time be beautiful and comfortable. The result of their work was a house with an unusually strong construction and unique design.
For people living in the coastal zone, it is very important that they have somewhere to return after a storm. Ordinary houses are very often destroyed to the ground, while the "Dome House" can stand as if nothing had happened even under a wind rushing at a speed of 450 km / h. At the same time, the Siglers' house fits perfectly into the surrounding landscape: the dome is the best suited to the surroundings of dunes, ponds and vegetation. The construction of the building is made of modern environmentally friendly materials that can last for several centuries.
cube buildings
(Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
A number of unusual houses were built in Rotterdam and Helmond according to the innovative design of the architect Piet Blom in 1984. Blom's radical decision was that he turned the box of the house by 45 degrees and placed it at an angle on a hexagonal pylon. There are 38 such houses in Rotterdam and two more super-cubes, and all the houses are articulated with each other. From a bird's eye view, the complex has an intricate appearance, resembling an impossible triangle.
The houses consist of three floors:
● Ground floor - entrance.
● First - living room with kitchen.
● Second - two bedrooms with a bathroom.
● Upper - sometimes a small garden is laid out here.
The walls and windows are inclined at an angle of 54.7 degrees with respect to the floor. The total area of the apartment is about 100 m2, however, about a quarter of the space is unusable due to the walls, which are at an angle.
Burj Al Arab Hotel
(Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
A luxury hotel in Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates. The building stands in the sea at a distance of 280 m from the shore on an artificial island connected to the land by a bridge. With a height of 321 m, the hotel was considered the tallest hotel in the world, until another Dubai hotel appeared - the Rose Tower - 333 m high, which opened in April 2008.
The construction of the hotel began in 1994; it opened to visitors on December 1, 1999. The hotel was built in the form of a dhow sail, an Arab ship. Closer to the top is a helipad, and on the other side is the El Muntaha restaurant (from Arabic - “highest”). Both are supported by cantilever beams.
Towers "Absolute"
Like any other rapidly developing suburb in North America, Mississauga is looking for a new architectural look. The Absolute Towers have become a new opportunity to respond to the needs of an ever-expanding city, to create a residential landmark that will claim to be something more than just efficient housing. They can create a permanent emotional connection for residents with their hometown. Such a structure can be safely included in the list of the most beautiful skyscrapers in the world.
Instead of the simple, functional logic of modernism, the design of the towers expresses the complex multiple needs of contemporary society. These buildings are much more than just a multifunctional machine. It is something beautiful, human and alive. The towers serve as an important gate to the city, located at the intersection of two main city streets.
Despite the special status of these towers as significant landmarks, the emphasis in the project was by no means on their height, as is the case with most of the tallest buildings in the world. Due to the design features, continuous balconies surround the entire building, eliminating the vertical barriers traditionally used in high-rise architecture. Towers "Absolute" rotate in different projections at different levels, combined with the surrounding landscapes. The aim of the designers was to provide a good 360-degree view from any point of the building, as well as to ensure the contact of residents with natural elements, awakening in them a reverent attitude towards nature. The height of tower A with 56 floors is 170 m, and tower B with a height of 50 floors is 150 m.
Pabellon de Aragon
(Zaragoza, Spain)
A building that looks like a wicker basket appeared in Zaragoza in 2008. The construction was timed to the full-scale exhibition "Expo-2008", dedicated to the problems of water shortage on the planet. The pavilion of Aragon, literally woven of glass and steel, is crowned with strange-looking structures placed on the roof.
As conceived by its creators, the building reflects the deep trace that five ancient civilizations left on the territory of Zaragoza. In addition, inside the building you can learn about the history of water and how man learned to manage water resources on the planet.
(Graz, Austria)
This museum-gallery of contemporary art was opened as part of the European Capital of Culture program in 2003. The concept of the building was developed by London-based architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier. The facade of the museum was designed by realities:united using BIX technology as a 900 m2 media installation consisting of luminous elements that can be programmed with a computer. It allows the museum to communicate with the surrounding urban space.
The installation has won a number of awards. The BIX façade was conceived when the rest of the building was already being developed. In addition to the late deadlines, it was difficult to integrate into the concept of other authors. In addition, the facade, without a doubt, became the dominant element of the architectural image. The design architects accepted the façade design because it was based on their original ideas for a large luminous surface.
Concert hall
(Canary Islands, Spain)
One of the most famous and recognizable buildings in Spain, the symbol of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, one of the most significant works of modern architecture and one of the main attractions of the Canary Islands. The opera was designed by Santiago Calatrava in 2003.
The Auditorio de Tenerife building is located in the city center, close to the César Manrique Marine Park, the city's port and the twin towers of Torres de Santa Cruz. There is a tram station nearby. You can enter the opera hall from two sides of the building at once. The Auditorio de Tenerife has two terraces overlooking the sea.
coin building
(Guangzhou, China)
In the Chinese city of Guangzhou, there is a unique building in the form of a huge disk with a hole inside. It will house the Guangdong Plastics Exchange. Now the final cosmetic work is going on here.
At 33 floors and 138 meters high, the coin-shaped building has an opening with a diameter of almost 50 meters, which has a functional, and not only design, value. The main shopping area will be located around it. The fact that the building has already become one of the main attractions of Guangdong is obvious. However, opinions are divided about its symbolic meaning.
The Italian company that developed the project claims that the form was based on jade discs owned by ancient Chinese rulers and nobility. They symbolized the high moral qualities of a person. In addition, together with its reflection in the Pearl River, on which the building stands, it forms the number 8. According to the Chinese, it brings good luck. However, many citizens of Guangzhou saw in this building a Chinese coin, symbolizing the desire for material wealth, and among the people this building has already been nicknamed the "disc of the prodigal rich." No word yet on when the building will be open to the public.
"Stone Cave"
(Barcelona, Spain)
Construction began in 1906, and in 1910 the five-story building had already become one of the most famous buildings in Barcelona. The locals dubbed it "La Pedrera" - a stone cave. Indeed, the house resembled a real cave. When it was created, Gaudí basically abandoned straight lines. The five-story residential building was erected without a single corner. The architect did not make walls as load-bearing structures, but columns and vaults, which gave him unlimited scope in the layout of rooms, the ceiling heights of which are different.
In order to get enough light into each room with such a complex layout, Gaudí had to make several courtyards with light ovals. Thanks to these numerous ovals, windows and undulating balconies, the house looks like a block of solidified lava. Or on a rock with caves.
Music building
(Huainan, China)
Piano House consists of two parts depicting two instruments: a transparent violin rests on a translucent piano. The unique building was built for music lovers, but it has nothing to do with music. An escalator is located in the violin, and an exhibition complex is located in the piano, in which the plans of streets and districts of the city are presented to the attention of visitors. The object was created at the suggestion of local authorities.
The unusual building seeks to attract the attention of Chinese people and numerous tourists to the new developing area, which has become the most iconic object. Thanks to the continuous glazing of the facades with transparent and tinted glass, the premises of the complex receive the maximum possible natural light. And in the dark, the body of the object is hidden in the dark, leaving visible only the neon contours of the silhouettes of giant "tools". Despite its popularity, the building is often criticized as a kind of postmodern kitsch and a typical student project, in which there is much more shocking than art and functionality.
CCTV Headquarters
(Beijing, China)
The headquarters of CCTV is a skyscraper in Beijing. The building will house the headquarters of China Central Television. Construction work began on September 22, 2004 and was completed in 2009. The architects of the building are Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren (OMA).
The skyscraper with a height of 234 m consists of 44 floors. The main building is built in an unusual style and is a ring-shaped structure of five horizontal and vertical sections, forming an irregular lattice on the facade of the building with an empty center. The total floor area is 473,000 m².
The construction of the building was considered a daunting task, especially given its location in an earthquake-prone area. Because of its unusual shape, it has already acquired the nickname "pants". The second building, the Television Cultural Center, will house the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, a visitor center, a large community theater and exhibition space.
Ferrari World Amusement Park
(Yas Island, Abu Dhabi)
The Ferrari Theme Park is housed under a 200,000 m² roof and is the largest indoor theme park in the world. Ferrari World officially opened on November 4, 2010. It is also home to the world's fastest pneumatic roller coaster, the Formula Rossa.
The emblematic roof of Ferrari World was designed by Benoy architects. It was designed based on the profile of the Ferrari GT. Ramboll provided the structure design, integrated planning and urban design, geotechnical engineering, and building facade design. The total roof area is 200,000 m² with a perimeter of 2200 m, and the area of the park is 86,000 m², making it the largest theme park in the world.
The roof of the building is decorated with the Ferrari logo measuring 65 by 48.5 m. This is the largest company logo ever created. 12,370 tons of steel were used to support the roof. In its center is a hundred-meter glazed funnel.
Innovative residential complex Reversible-Destiny Lofts
(Tokyo, Japan)
As conceived by the architect, the apartments in the complex he created are designed in such a way that their inhabitants are always on the alert. Uneven multi-level floors, concave and convex walls, doors that can only be entered by bending over, sockets on the ceiling - in a word, not life, but a continuous adventure. Relax in such conditions will not succeed.
A person is constantly struggling with the environment, so there is simply no time left to mope or think about sores. What is it - shock therapy or a joyful game, is not yet clear. But restrained and subservient to traditions and taste, the Japanese are ready to pay twice as much for uncomfortable apartments than for comfortable and familiar ones located in the same area. It is interesting that all the "apartments" are rented, they are not for sale. Moreover, the 83-year-old Buddhist nun and popular writer Jakute Setouti, who was the first to live in a new house, claims that since the move she began to feel younger and much better.
"Slim House"
(London, Great Britain)
An unusual residential building, also known as "Slim House", is located near the Natural History Museum in South Kensington (London). This house became famous throughout the world due to its wedge-shaped shape, or rather, the width of one of the sides of the building - a little more than a meter.
At first glance, the incredibly narrow structure of the building is just an optical illusion. Despite this, The Thin House has become very popular with Londoners and tourists. The reason for such an architectural idea is not accidental. South Kensington tube station train line runs right behind the house.
Due to the unusual design of the house, the apartments do not have a standard rectangular shape, but a trapezoid shape. For narrow rooms it is necessary to select non-standard furniture. In any case, despite a number of shortcomings, apartments in a “thin” structure are very popular among those who want to acquire new housing.
Air Force Academy Chapel
(Colorado, USA)
The striking exterior of the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel in Colorado Springs caused some controversy when it was completed in 1963, but it is now considered one of the finest examples of modern American architecture.
The Cadet Chapel, made of steel, aluminum and glass, has 17 pointed spiers, reminiscent of jet fighters taking off into the sky. Inside there are two main levels and one basement. There is a Protestant chapel with 1200 seats, a 500-seat Catholic chapel and a 100-seat Jewish chapel. Each chapel has a separate entrance, so sermons can be held simultaneously without interfering with each other.
The Protestant chapel, which occupies the upper level, has stained-glass windows between the tetrahedral walls. The colors of the windows vary from dark to light, representing God coming from darkness into light. The altar is made of a smooth marble slab 15 feet long, shaped like a ship, symbolizing the church. The pews are designed in such a way that the end of each pew resembles the propeller of a World War I aircraft. Their backs are topped with a strip of aluminum, similar to the leading edge of a wing of a fighter plane. The walls of the chapel are decorated with paintings that are divided into three groups: brotherhood, flight (in honor of the Air Force) and justice.
On the lower level are multiver rooms, defined as places of worship for cadets of other religious groups. They are left without religious symbols so that they can be used by many people.
