Interesting architectural structures of the world. Art Museum building, Graz, Austria. Profitable house Tarkhova

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 real business card 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.

The 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 official name which 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 it was the tallest building in the city. 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 a rich history is 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, when it is a whole architectural complex, which took more than 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.

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 reverse side. 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 include demolition 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. (Second famous building in Moscow, the work of the same architect is the northern 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

Building 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. Ya. 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 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 gothic cathedral in Westminster Abbey, and the prototype of the dome is the dome 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 this moment needs 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 Museum project fine arts them. 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. Last time The building was 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.

Of course, this was a subjective rating based only on my good taste. It is always easier to criticize, criticism unites people. "Look, what shit!" - and now an assenting crowd is lining up behind you, which, like seagulls, repeats: "Yes-yes-yes-yes!" But with good architecture it is much more difficult.

There is practically no good architecture in Russia. We have grown up several generations who have no idea what architecture is. The last qualitative surge was 100 years ago, during the heyday of avant-garde art. And that's it. After the 30s - silence. I don't consider Stalin's empire style as high-quality architecture, but it is the scar that adorns the city. However, it was replaced by a struggle with embellishment, then Brezhnev's monumental shit, and then there was no time for architecture, there was nothing to eat.

So, in aesthetic terms, the Russian person remains nostalgic for pre-revolutionary classics and post-revolutionary modernity. Maybe that's why we love parodies of classical architecture so much?

Here we must make a digression. A person walks around the city, sees the Bolshoi Theater or some kind of estate - the eye is good and pleasant, and now the person decides to build a house in this style. Classical architecture seems simple and clear. All styles have been studied. Here's the Gothic, and here's the Baroque. It is impossible to confuse. Here's an Ionic order, and here's a Doric order. Everything is clear as in the designer "Lego". It would seem that you take a textbook and build. As soon as it seems to the architect that everything is clear, the trap closes. All. Few can design in a classic style with high quality. It's like playing classical music: incredibly difficult, it takes a lot of experience and practice. The classic does not forgive mistakes. The slightest mistake in proportions - and everything will fall apart. That is why from the seed of good intentions ("make it beautiful"), another freak will almost certainly be born.

Each era has its own architectural style. There was modernity, there was constructivism, there was the same Stalinist Empire style. This is a reflection of the era. There was the architecture of stagnation and the "architecture of money" of the dashing 90s. In this sense, even Luzhkov's shit has the right to exist. Of course, not in the quantity in which it is scattered around the city. Today we are dealing with high-tech architecture. New materials, technologies and computer programs allow you to build previously unthinkable designs. Skyscrapers set records for height, buildings amaze with the impossibility of form. And that's great. Architecture should keep up with the times, and not replicate parodies of the successes of the past.

But here we run into another problem. For many years in Russia there was no normal architectural education at all. The country's main architectural university, the Moscow Architectural Institute, was almost shut down for inefficiency. They even ordered a prayer service so that they would not lose their license. The quality of education there is extremely low. I know because I learned it myself. There are only a few cool architects in the entire university who can really teach something. Basically, young guys fall into the hands of old senile farts, who, like spiders, hold on to their places, while they cannot teach anything. Few people manage to get a good education. And these units then end up in a world where there is no customer. Yes, it is not enough to grow a good architect, you also need to grow a good customer who will have a taste. So the weed of hope has just begun to break through the deaf concrete lid of the scoop. Perhaps our children will build beautiful modern buildings, but for now, any architectural success is more like a miracle than a pattern.

Today I made a selection of the most beautiful buildings in Moscow. You will certainly have your own opinion on this matter. I know that many of the buildings I have noted are not popular with Muscovites. But I like them! Do not agree? Submit your list in the comments!

1. Dominion Tower Zaha Hadid

Russia is usually unlucky with the implementation of projects of world architecture stars, but there are a few exceptions. One of them is the Dominion Tower office center by Zaha Hadid, which was finally completed at the end of last year on Sharikopodshipnikovskaya Street.

Zaha Hadid is one of the best architects in the world. Almost all of her projects are brilliant. Unfortunately, she recently passed away. It is good that in Moscow there is a building built according to her design.

This is a seven-story building with office space and parking for 251 cars. The center is lined with aluminum composite panels that change color depending on the angle of view and illumination. The floors of the building seem to be casually thrown on top of each other. Describing the building, representatives of Zaha Hadid Architects spoke of the "idea of ​​spatial flight."

It's like a game of jenga, a stack of books, or a torn cake. According to the original plan, the "overhang" of the floors relative to each other was to reach 20 meters, but due to Russian building codes, it had to be cut to 8.

Photo: Alexander Usoltsev

The architectural bureau "Alice" adapted Hadid's idea to the harsh Russian reality. Perhaps because of this, the Dominion Tower turned out to be much more modest than most of Hadid's foreign projects and than her project for a new Expocenter building, which was never built.

The developer challenged Hadid to design a building that "wouldn't look outdated in 50 years." Whether the Pritzker Prize winner has coped with this is up to you to decide.

Now the Fund for Assistance to Housing and Public Utilities Reform is proudly sitting in the building.

2. Residential building Copper House

Photo: KALINKA

This is probably one of the first unusual houses in Moscow, for which you are not ashamed. A small neat residential complex by Sergey Skuratov appeared in Butikovsky Lane in 2004. These are three cubic six-story buildings, "torn off" from the ground due to cantilever outriggers.

The houses are clad in patinated copper panels, which give them a characteristic greenish color. As Boris Kuzinets, the founder of the Rose Group developer (it was this company that built the complex), put it, this shade is "an architectural inversion of the color of grass."

From an interview with Skuratov:

I know that none of my houses have harmed anyone, but I open blogs and read what some girl writes there: “Copper House, of course, is a good house, but why was it painted in such a disgusting green color?” They answer her: "Fool, this is patinated copper." “What is patinated copper?” “It’s like when pigeons poop on Pushkin.” And she: “Well, how many pigeons have been killed!”

It is worth recalling that the house is located in the very center of Moscow. A good example of how you can correctly fit modern architecture into a historical environment.

3. "House on Mosfilmovskaya"

Photo: Vostok

This is another famous work of Sergei Skuratov. That rare case when a new building in Moscow becomes a recognizable part of its modern look.

It's funny that Luzhkov didn't like the "House on Mosfilmovskaya" right away, and they even tried to declare the skyscraper a "squatter" and cut its height, or even completely dismantle it. But in 2010, Luzhkov left, and the building survived.

The complex consists of two buildings: 53-storey (213 meters) and 34-storey (132 meters). When Muscovites talk about the complex, they primarily mean the tower. The fact that the second building is also part of the "House on Mosfilmovskaya" is known mainly to those who did not manage to buy an apartment in the tower and who began to look for a backup option.

The skyscraper received an award at ARCH-Moscow 2005, and in 2006 was nominated for the first national architectural award Buildings Awards. In addition, the building was included in the top 5 skyscrapers in the world according to Emporis.

Great job! Light and elegant skyscraper looks great on the panorama of Moscow.

4. Complex "Moscow City"

Photo: Vostok

In general, I really like the Moscow City complex. Its main problem is that it was installed without thinking through the transport infrastructure. But if you look at it from an architectural point of view, then most skyscrapers are very cool.

The City of Capitals complex was especially successful, these two towers:


Photo: Vostok

I really like the spiral skyscraper:


Photo: Vostok

And a residential complex of two OKO skyscrapers:


Photo: Vostok

5. The building of the Federal Arbitration Court

Photo: TPO "Reserve"

Few people know about this building, since it is hidden inside the quarter behind the Novoslobodskaya metro station. People are even more surprised when they find out that it turns out to be a courthouse! The glass giant on Seleznevskaya Street was supposed to form a new image of the Russian court - open and transparent, and therefore fair.

The building consists of two blocks - a public one, in which meetings are held, and an administrative one, where the court apparatus is located. The façade of the public part (intentionally of a smooth shape in contrast to the "rigid" administrative building) is decorated with recognizable metal plates that look like blinds. Architect Vladimir Plotkin from TPO "Reserve" says that they even wanted to make these plates manageable, but it turned out to be too expensive. As a result, the "blinds" remained motionless.

The building of the Arbitration Court was built in 2007. In addition to meeting rooms, offices and a press center, it houses a rehabilitation center and a restaurant for employees.

TPO "Reserve" became the winner of the competition "House of the Year 2008" in the nomination "Project of the Year" and was nominated for the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona for the design of the courthouse.

6. New NTV office

Photo: Anton Belitsky

If NTV has anything good, it's their office. The building was designed by the Danes, now it is almost completed. It worked out very well.

Photo: Anton Belitsky

7. "White Square" on "Belorusskaya"

One of the few modern buildings in Moscow that everyone likes. It was built 10 years ago according to the project of ABD architects under the leadership of Boris Levyant. Office buildings occupy the entire block, and are made very delicately. The famous Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is located on the site, and the office center does not argue with it at all, but rather serves as a background.

A rare example of how you can competently and accurately fit a new building without harming the environment.

Photo: Scubapro (Wikipedia)

8. Skolkovo school campus

Photo: Adjaye Associates

This is not exactly Moscow, but where are we without Skolkovo. From an architectural point of view, everything is much better in Skolkovo than from a scientific point of view. If it is not yet possible to build a Russian Silicon Valley, then to make high-quality architecture, for which you are not ashamed, turned out perfectly.

Photo: Adjaye Associates

But since the architect himself is of African descent, he added Tanzanian ornaments to the design of the building.

Photo: http://www.archiexpo.es/

The campus building is a giant three-story base disk with administrative and hotel blocks located on its roof. The campus itself, with auditoriums, media centers and entire streets, is inside the disk. A treadmill was placed on the roof of the disk. Some innovations have been tried in the building, such as the fountain wall and the green wall.

The construction of the campus began in 2006 and was completed in 2010.

9. NOVATEK office

Photo: Speech

The design of the office building on Udaltsova Street was developed by the architectural bureau Speech, headed by Sergey Tchoban and Sergey Kuznetsov. It is a twelve-story house, easily recognizable by its undulating bay windows and Portuguese limestone paneling. The building began to be designed in 2005 and completed in 2011. Now NOVATEK wants to build another office on the site of the demolished Sport Hotel, which was located nearby.

The building is interesting in that it does not shock the viewer at first sight. Modest and discreet. To some, it may seem too simple.

Photo: Speech

But the thrill is in the details. It is like an expensive suit: well-made, made of quality materials. Delight in every detail, nothing to complain about. Great job.

Photo: Speech

Photo: Speech

10. Factory Stanislavsky

In general, this is a whole block on Taganka, located on the territory of the former factory of the Alekseevs.

An office center, residential buildings, a restaurant and even a theater were made here. Probably one of the best examples of the reconstruction of an industrial area in Moscow. The renovation project was designed by British architect John McAslan.

I remember what used to be here, and I see how this quarter has changed.

Buildings have been restored, something has been restored from scratch, new residential buildings are modest and inconspicuous against the backdrop of pre-revolutionary industrial architecture, and the amenities are such that you rarely see even in Europe and the USA.

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 majestic temple 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" - 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 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 Polish city Sopot on Heroes Monte Cassino Street is one of the most unusual houses on the planet - 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 in front of the customer, who became shopping mall"Resident", was the creation of such an appearance of the building, which would attract as many visitors as possible. In the design of the facade, the most different materials: from glass to stone, - and the roof 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. The outside of 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.

Test yourself for strength and look at interesting building not only Poles come, but also Foreign tourists. 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 is no quiet life and there would be no speech. 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, and it also 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. Effective area buildings - 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)

Weird and amazing town 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, as the most suitable place Eastern Pyrenees were chosen. To this day, the Furnace remains the largest in the world. The array of mirrors 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 oven 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 best museum cities. 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. In those days, 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 at artificial island connected to the ground with a bridge. With a height of 321 m, the hotel was considered the most high 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 its new architectural appearance. 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 peace.

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 various projections on different levels blending in with the surrounding scenery. The aim of the designers was to provide good review 360 degrees from anywhere in the building, as well as provide residents with contact 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 program " cultural capital Europe" 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 marine park Cesar Manrique, the city 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. 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, large community theater and exhibition areas.

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)

Startling appearance The Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel in Colorado Springs caused some controversy when completed in 1963, but 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 fighter plane's wing. 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.

The unusual architecture of houses - what is it, a departure from generally accepted standards or the creative self-expression of their designers, who seek to distinguish their creations from the gray mass of ordinary buildings?

Dancing house in Prague

This amazing building is located in the very center of Prague on the embankment of the Vltava River, in the Reslovaya Street area. The exact address Dancing House: Rasinovo nabrezi, 80.
The history of the building is quite interesting. The house that formerly stood on the site of the Dancing House was destroyed in January 1945 during an American air raid. For half a century, the seat was vacant until Czech President Václav Havel intervened. The fact is that the one next to the ruined house was built by the grandfather of the Czech president and before the nationalization was the property of the Havel family. Now it is difficult to say whether this circumstance or another caused the start of construction, but be that as it may, the Czech president decided to build another house on the site of the wasteland, designed by the Czech architect with Croatian roots Vlado Milunich (Vlado Miluni?). However, the insurance company that bought the land demanded that some well-known Western architect take part in the project. The choice fell on the famous Canadian-American deconstructivist architect, Pritzker Prize winner, Frank Gehry. The construction of the "drunken house" was carried out from 1994 to 1996, with the personal supervision of Vaclav Havel. The main architectural idea of ​​the building was an analogy with the famous dance duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, known as "Ginger and Fred". Even a cursory glance at the building is enough to see this architectural design. One of the two cylindrical parts, the one that expands upward, symbolizes a male figure (Fred), and the second part of the building visually resembles a female figure with a thin waist and a skirt fluttering in dance (Ginger). In my opinion, the embodiment of the idea was fully successful. However, the conceptual name "Ginger and Fred" did not catch on, and this amazing structure in everyday life began to be called simply "dancing" or "drunk". At the moment, the building is a business center, which houses the offices of several international companies. There is a French restaurant on the roof, with an amazing view of Prague. When you look at this building for the first time, especially in the photo, there is an absolute feeling of fragility of the structure. However, for the first time I saw the "Dancing House" live, and not in the photo. During our trip to the Czech Republic, for some time we observed this house from afar, from various angles, and one fine day we purposefully went to take a closer look. I must say that near the feeling of fragility completely disappears. But the views of the building become even more exotic. You can see for yourself. It would be interesting to visit inside the "Drunken House" and look at the layout of the premises and the views from the windows. They say they are amazing! I hope I will still be able to do this on my next trips, because the Czech Republic is worth it to go there several times!

Floating Castle in Ukraine (Floating Castle)
And for this building, there is really no support. The flying castle literally hangs in the air.
It would seem that the laws of gravity are a common thing for everyone, and no matter how cool, but kindly observe them, otherwise the building will collapse. But there are people who sneeze at all these gravitational forces and build houses that onlookers look at and say, "How come they don't fall?!" Let's see, too. Standing on a single support, this mysterious levitating farmhouse belongs in a science fiction movie. It is believed that this is an old bunker for excess mineral fertilizers, but we believe that extraterrestrial architects clearly had a hand (paw? tentacle?) in its design.

Upside Down House (Syzmbark, Poland)

An unusual work of the artist and architect Daniel Chapievsky was built in the village of Szymbark, Poland. The main unusual design is that it completely imitates an upside-down house, right down to the "grass" and "earth" under (that is, above) the stone base. At the same time, the house is quite stable and fully adapted for life. The construction of the upside down house lasted 114 days. Local builders were very surprised at the strange project, but they managed without mistakes. Now the house has become one of the most popular attractions in Poland, people come here not only simple tourists, but also architects - to learn from a talented colleague.

Forest Spiral in Darmstadt

The unusual house with the intriguing name "Forest Spiral" (Waldspirale (Forest Spiral)) was built in Darmstadt, Germany between 1998 and 2000. The creation belongs to the hand of a renowned Austrian architect and artist, well known for his revolutionary, colorful architecture. The architect's projects very often borrow their forms from nature - for example, an onion-shaped dome. This building with 105 apartments, as if "wrapping" around the courtyard, among other things, has a comfortable restaurant with a cozy cocktail bar

US basket house

This is perhaps the strangest administrative building in the world. The basket and wicker company Longaberger built its headquarters in a replica of the real product it produces, the wicker basket. The building occupied 180 thousand square meters, two years of construction, and cost $30 million. Experts have repeatedly discouraged the owner of the company Dave Longberger from changing the layout of the building, but apparently he made the right choice - thanks to this idea, his company became known to the whole world.

Piano house with a violin (Piano shaped building). Huainan City, China.

This "musical" house is located in the Chinese city of Huainan. A huge violin serves as the entrance to the building and there is an escalator in it to go up to the "piano". The structure is made of transparent and black glass. The building was built primarily as a landmark to make the city stand out from many other unremarkable Chinese cities. In the same building there is an exhibition complex, which demonstrates the plans of streets and districts of the city.

Central Library in Kansas (Kansas City Public Library). State of Missouri, USA.
Probably, if all libraries were built in such a design, then they would not have a shortage of readers. With the construction of the Central Library in the form of a rack with books, the authorities of the city of Kansas City in the USA not only decorated the business center of the city, but also supported the reading spirit of the townspeople. The facade of the building is designed in the form of spines of the most influential and popular books in Kansas.

House-stone (Stone House). Guemaraes, Portugal.

Grand Mosque Jenna (Great Mosque of Djenn?). Djenne, Mali, Africa
The Djennen Cathedral Mosque is the largest adobe building in the world and is considered by most architects to be the greatest achievement of the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style, albeit with certain Islamic influences. The mosque is located in the city of Djenne, Mali on the floodplain of the Bani River. The first mosque was built in the 13th century, but this mosque has been under construction since 1907. It is one of the most famous landmarks in Africa. Along with the "Old Towns of Djenne". The mosque was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

The Neverwas Haul. Berkeley, California, USA

This steampunk mobile home looks like something out of a fairy tale or fantasy stories by Jules Verne. And those who watched the cartoon "Howl's Moving Castle" will certainly appreciate this wonderful house. This three-story house was created by a group of 12 steampunk fans, giving it the name Neverwas Haul. It took four months of painstaking work to bring the unusual dwelling to life, but it is still very far from complete. For starters, the creators want to equip their offspring with a befitting steam engine instead of the diesel one currently in use.
The project also plans to construct a number of machines for processing waste into fuel for the engine, a camera obscura that will be installed in the tower, as well as a stage in the Victorian style to demonstrate novelties from the “front line” of the steampunk movement with the help of a magic lantern and various performances. However, from all that was conceived at the moment, only a distillation boiler is ready.