The most grandiose buildings in the world. The most ambitious unrealized architectural projects

Do you think it’s only here that they build grandiosely and expensively, and then don’t know what to adapt it to? Where there!

Is there some more North Korea, Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, Spain, Greece, Romania with their examples of multi-billions buried in the ground and poured into concrete.
Here are just a few expensive and in many ways unique construction projects, the maintenance of which costs owners a pretty penny, but neither the creators nor visitors need them.

Mirabel Airport
Montreal, Canada

The first stage of the airport was put into operation in 1975, but the plans of its creators were not destined to come true. Erroneous planning of traffic flows, the decline in the attractiveness of Montreal as an economic center, changes in the policies of the Quebec government and other factors led to the fact that during its entire existence, not even 3 million passengers passed through Mirabel per year.

In 2004, due to unprofitability, the airport stopped serving regular flights. commercial flights, turning into a cargo air harbor. Races began to be held on the vast runways, and films were filmed in the terminal building. And in 2014, they decided to demolish the terminal building because it was too expensive to operate and no one really needed it. The construction of Mirabell Airport was recognized as a mistake, and the honorary title of “white elephant” was awarded to it in the first decade of its existence. This happens quite often with airports. So, the new main Berlin Harbour Air- Berlin-Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport - was planned to open back in 2011, but it still does not accept either planes or passengers due to errors in the project.

Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Paix
Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast

Two years later, Houphouët-Boigny laid the foundation stone for the largest church in the world, Notre-Dame de la Paix, or Our Lady of Peace. Construction took four years and cost the country's budget, according to various estimates, from 175 to 600 million dollars. And this is not surprising: hundreds of tons of marble were brought from Italy, stained glass windows from France, the building ended up with an area of ​​30 thousand square meters. m and a height of 158 meters (higher than St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, although Notre-Dame de la Paix can accommodate about 18 thousand people, which is three times less than the same St. Peter's Cathedral). The square paved with granite and marble in front of the basilica can accommodate another 200 thousand people, that is, approximately the entire population of Yamoussoukro, of which at most 19% are Catholics.

Speaking of population, about 42% of the population of Côte d'Ivoire lives below the poverty line, that is, on less than $1.25 a day. Services in the basilica today attract hundreds of people at best.

Ryugyong Hotel
Pyongyang, North Korea
In 1987, the North Korean government, led by President Kim Il Sung, announced the start of construction of the tallest building in the country - the 105-story, 330-meter Ryugyong Hotel with 3,000 (according to other sources - 7,700) rooms and with revolving restaurants on top.

Construction resumed in 2008, and over the next three years the concrete structure was lined with glass, new date The opening date was 2013, and the first photos of the interiors of the future hotel appeared on the Internet. The opening, however, has not taken place to this day, and experts around the world doubt that North Korea is even capable of completing construction and that the building is suitable for use. It is noteworthy that London's tallest skyscraper, The Shard, which has a similar shape, also stands half empty - buyers are in no hurry to purchase apartments worth 30–50 million pounds sterling.

Shopping complex "New Shopping Center of South China"
Dongguan, China

In the first years after opening, tenants occupied only 1% of the center's space. Ten years later, this figure increased tenfold, but even today the complex is largely empty. The reason is that local population is not making enough money to make the complex attractive to sellers, and the developers' hopes that Dongguan residents will become rich have not been realized.

City of Galician Culture
Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Construction lasted more than ten years, cost at least twice as much as planned (in the project, Aizenman indicated a figure of 400 million euros) and was eventually stopped by a decision of the regional government. Two of the six buildings remained unfinished, and most importantly, the vast complex did not attract the expected number of tourists and local residents, while its maintenance is very expensive for the local budget.

Clem Jones Tunnel
Brisbane, Australia

When construction began in 2005, the tunnel was expected to be the longest in Australia. Its construction cost 3.2 billion Australian dollars (approximately 2.5 billion US dollars) and was not an easy task: the builders had to break through very hard rock - Brisbane tuff, for which they used the largest roadheaders in the world at that time, costing 50 million Australian dollars each.

The tunnel and access roads were finally opened on February 28, 2010 to a large crowd. But it soon became clear that citizens use the tunnel much less often than the city council had planned: for example, officials expected that 60 thousand cars would pass through the tunnel every day, but in fact about 20 thousand drivers use it every day, and it saves only eight minutes on the road and relieves other city highways by only 5–10%. Travel through the tunnel is paid, but even discounts and radical price reductions (to the detriment of the project's return on investment) do not help increase the attractiveness of the structure among city residents. The operating company's losses in 2010 amounted to 1.6 billion Australian dollars.

Objects of the 2004 Olympics
Athens and surroundings, Greece

At the same time, the costs of maintaining sports facilities in proper condition were estimated at 500 million euros annually, and these facilities themselves turned out to be of no use to anyone. Thus, the center for rowing competitions has turned into a fetid swamp and a comfortable place for hordes of mosquitoes to live, the shooting stadium is overgrown, and the Olympic village is gradually being destroyed. Interestingly, approximately the same thing happens with Olympic venues in Rio de Janeiro and Beijing, as well as with sports facilities built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Palace of Parliament
Bucharest, Romania

Now the palace premises have a total area of ​​365 thousand square meters. meters (this is about one and a half Red Squares in Moscow) are located both houses of the Romanian parliament, three museums and a conference center. Together they occupy about 30% of the palace. The cost of the structure is estimated at 3 billion euros, while its lighting and heating costs approximately 6 million euros annually - about the same amount a medium-sized Romanian city spends per year on the same needs.

Due to the rapid growth of the planet's population, the need for more developed and large-scale infrastructure naturally increases. The world's leading engineers annually implement projects that amaze with their grandeur and scope.
This review presents 5 large-scale buildings that can be called an engineering miracle.
1. The longest bridge in the world

Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is the longest bridge in the world.

The Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct is a motorway whose length is 164.8 km.
The construction of the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, which connected Beijing and Shanghai, can be called a real engineering feat. The length of the bridge is 164.8 kilometers, making it the longest such project in the world. The construction of the bridge lasted 4 years (the opening took place in 2011). To maximize the optimization of the work process, 10,000 builders were carried out simultaneously from opposite points. The project cost was $10 billion.
2. Archipelago of artificial islands

Palm Islands - man-made islands made in the shape of a palm tree.


Bulk palm islands In Dubai.
The Palm Islands in Dubai are recognized as a real engineering and architectural miracle. Behind last years 3 islands were created - (Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira). For their construction, 85,000,000 cubic meters of sand were poured onto the seabed. This archipelago is visible from the Moon even with the naked eye.
3. The largest hydroelectric power station in the world

Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydroelectric power station in the world.


The Three Gorges is the largest hydroelectric power station in the world, built in China.
The Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydroelectric power station in the world. The length of the dam is 2309 meters and the height is 185 meters. During its construction, 27.2 million cubic meters of concrete were used, which would be enough to fill 10,200 Olympic swimming pools. The energy produced by this hydroelectric power station covers the needs of 11% of the entire country. The Chinese authorities had to shell out $50 billion for the construction of Three Gorges Dam.
4. The most long airport in the world

Kansai Airport is the longest airport in the world.


Kansai Airport is built right on the bay.
Off the coast Japanese city Osaka, a huge international airport, Kansai Airport, was built right on the bay. To implement this project, it was necessary to build a man-made island reinforced with numerous metal structures. The airport was built in the bay taking into account the sudden threat of flooding, the occurrence of typhoons and the high seismicity of the area. The cost of Kansai Airport was $29 billion.
5. Venice flood barrier

Venice Tide Barrier Project - a project that protects Venice from floods.


A barrier that holds back flood waters.
It's no secret that Venice is slowly but surely going under water. And periodic floods only “help” her with this. To protect the architectural and cultural pearl of Italy from destruction, a barrier (Venice Tide Barrier) was built. Engineers have developed a unique method of using mobile gates to control the movement of flood waters into the bay.

Old or new, with complex or simple structures, these buildings are undoubtedly the most incredible in the world. There are attractive ones, there are unusual ones, and there are just crazy buildings that are unlike anything else. Sometimes it can even be difficult to immediately understand what is in front of you - a house or something else?

Lotus Temple

(Delhi, India)

The main Bahai temple of India and neighboring countries, built in 1986. Located in New Delhi, the capital of India. A huge building made of snow-white Pentelic marble in the shape of a blooming lotus flower is one of the most popular attractions among tourists in Delhi. Known as main temple 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: "According to the will of God in the future 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, shopping and entertainment complexes, including a supermarket, family park, cafes and restaurants, cinemas, gyms, a water park with an artificial beach and pools with wave effect, service and office premises, parking for 700 spaces and much more.

The highlight of “Khan Shatyr” is a beach resort with tropical climate, plants and a temperature of +35°C all year round. Sandy beaches The resorts are equipped with a heating system that creates the feeling of a real beach, and the sand is brought from the Maldives. The building is a giant 150 m high tent (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” entered the top ten world eco-buildings according to Forbes Style magazine, becoming the only building from the entire CIS that 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 by world performer, Italian tenor of classical music Andrea Bocelli took place. The most interesting thing is that any Tyumen resident can visit this amazing place: Astana is only a nine-hour drive.

Guggenheim Museum

(Bilbao, Spain)

Designed by American architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Museum is a magnificent example of the most innovative ideas in 20th century architecture. Constructed from titanium, it is decorated with wavy lines that change color under the sun's rays. The total area is 24,000 m2, 11,000 of which are dedicated to exhibitions.

The Guggenheim Museum is a true architectural landmark, a showcase of daring configurations and innovative design that provides a seductive backdrop to the artworks housed within. This building changed the world's view of modern architecture and museums and became 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, by the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the BSSR, the Belarusian State and University Library was founded. The number of readers was constantly increasing. Over the course of its history, the library has replaced several buildings, and soon the need arose to build a new large and functional library building.

Back in 1989, a competition for designs for a new library building was held at the republican level. The “glass diamond” by architects Mikhail Vinogradov and Viktor Kramarenko was recognized as the best. On May 19, 1992, by Resolution of the Council of Ministers, the Belarusian State Library received national status. On March 7, 2002, the President of the Republic signed a decree on the construction of the building government agency"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 Grigorievich Lukashenko (who, by the way, received library card No. 1) at the opening ceremony noted that “this unique building combines austere beauty 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 sociocultural needs of society.

The new library building houses 20 reading rooms, which are designed for 2000 users. All rooms are equipped with electronic departments for issuing documents, modern equipment that allows scanning and copying documents, printing from electronic copies. The halls have computerized workstations, workstations for visually impaired and blind users, equipped with special equipment.

crooked house

(Sopot, Poland)

In the Polish city of Sopot, on the Heroes of Monte Cassino Street, there is one of the most unusual houses on the planet - the Crooked House (in Polish - Krzywy Domek). It seems that he either melted in the sun, or is it optical illusion, and this is not the house itself, but only its reflection in a huge crooked mirror.

A crooked house is truly crooked and does not contain a single flat place or corner. It was built in 2004 according to the design of two Polish architects – Szotinski and Zalewski – who were impressed by the drawings of artists Jan Marcin Schanzer and Per Oskar Dahlberg. The authors’ main task for the customer, which was the Resident shopping center, was to create the appearance of the building that would attract as many visitors as possible. The façade design uses the most different materials: from glass to stone, - and the roof of enamel plates resembles the back of a dragon. The doors and windows are just as asymmetrical and intricately curved, giving the house the appearance of some kind of fairy-tale hut.

The Crooked House is open 24 hours a day. During the day there is a shopping center, cafes and other establishments, and in the evening there are 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 survey by The Village of Joy, Crooked House topped the list of the fifty most unusual buildings peace.

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 being completed. 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 making clay teapots, China is also famous for its elite varieties of tea.

Developer The Wanda Group announced that 40 billion yuan ($6.4 billion) were spent on the construction of the cultural and exhibition center. The result was 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 different sizes play an important role.

The center of Wuxi Wanda will feature exhibition halls, a water park, a roller coaster, and a Ferris wheel. 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)

The unusual residential complex in Montreal was designed by architect Moshe Safdie in 1966–1967. The complex was built for the start of Expo 67, 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 exchanged a quiet house in a residential area for such a non-standard house. Most apartments have a private garden on the roof of the neighbor below.

The building style is considered brutalism. Habitat 67 was built more than 45 years ago, but still amazes with its scale. This is, without a doubt, one of the few modern utopias that not only came to life, but also became very popular and was even considered elite.

Dancing building

(Prague, Czech Republic)

An office building in Prague in the deconstructivist style consists of two cylindrical towers: a conventional one and a destructive one. The Dancing House, jokingly called "Ginger and Fred", 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 fluttering skirt (Ginger).

Like many deconstructivist buildings, the building contrasts sharply with its neighbor - an integral architectural complex of the turn of the 19th and 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 is French restaurant overlooking Prague La Perle de Prague.

Forest spiral building

(Darmstadt, Germany)

The Austrian genius Friedensreich Hundertwasser donated a unique building to the German city of Darmstadt in 2000. Painted in different colors, a magic house from a children's fairy tale with floating lines of a curved facade, it looks out onto the world with 1048 windows of non-repeating shapes, sizes and decor. Real trees grow from some of the windows.

This original structure in the form of a horseshoe spiraling upward is called “an unusual house among the usual monotony.” It was built in a “biomorphic” style, although, in fact, it is a real 12-story residential complex, or rather, a kind of fairy-tale green village. It includes not only a house with 105 comfortable apartments, but also a quiet courtyard with artificial lakes, shaped bridges and paths trodden right in the grass; artistically designed children's playgrounds; closed parking lots; shops; pharmacy and other elements of developed infrastructure.

Upside Down House

(Szymbark, Poland)

The unique house, which sits 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 guests walk on the ceiling. The interior is decorated in the style of socialist realism: there is a lounge room with a TV and a chest of drawers. There is also a table made from the longest solid board in the world - 36.83 m. Of course, the Guinness Book of Records did not ignore it.

The building took more time and money to construct than a conventional house of the same size. The foundation required 200 m³ of concrete. The author of the project was asked many times whether his project was related to commercial goals. The answer was always a stubborn “no.” However, the upside-down house 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 intended to use the new building as his own home. Whether this is so is unknown, but the upside-down house in Szymbark never became residential.

However, there is nothing to complain about: the line of tourists who want to go inside does not dry out, so there is no need to worry about peaceful life and there would be no talk. 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 for them, 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 sparkles in the sun thanks to the inclusions of glass pieces in the plaster. The white color signifies 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 reflects beautifully in the sun's rays.

Construction of the temple began in 1997 and is still ongoing. It is being built by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat with his own funds, proceeds 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. Almost 8,000 m3 of reinforced concrete was used during construction. The usable area of ​​the building is 180,000 square feet. The basket is located on an area of ​​about 20,000 square feet (approximately 2200 m2) and completely copies one of its owner's trademarks.

When the project architect Nikolina Georgievsha found out what was in store for her, she exclaimed: “Wow! I’ve never done anything like this before!” Indeed, this building cannot be called standard. Unlike other buildings, it expands upward. 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 ​​3,300 m2, around which the offices are located. In addition, the ground floor is occupied by a theater-like auditorium with 142 seats. The building aspires to a certain pomp: the design takes into account two plates attached to the building with the owner’s trademark, coated with 23-karat 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 American military personnel serving in East Asia.

The original idea for building such houses belonged to the owner of the Sanjhih Township plastics company, Mr. Yu-Ko Chow. The first construction license was issued in 1978. The design was developed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen. But construction was stopped in 1980 when Yu-Chou declared bankruptcy. All efforts to resume work came to nothing. In addition, several serious accidents occurred during construction due to the allegedly 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)

The Casa do Penedo house in the mountains of Portugal, built between four boulders, resembles a Stone Age dwelling. The isolated 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 Rodriguez family hermits, but brought them closer to a natural lifestyle without excesses. Electricity was never installed in the house; Candles are still used for lighting here. The room is heated using 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 directly into the stones.

The stone hut, reminiscent of the home of the characters in the American animated series “The Flintstones,” blended so organically 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 home. 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, it is one of the first projects aimed at revitalizing the city and its historical and tourism value. Residents were asked to remember the most famous books that were somehow connected with the name of Kansas City, and over the course of two years they selected twenty fiction books. The appearance of these publications was incorporated into the innovative design of the Central City Library to encourage visitation.

The library building looks like a bookshelf on which giant books are laid out. Each of them reaches seven meters in height and about two meters in width. 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 examination room and much more. The Kansas City Public Library has unique architecture that is stunning. Today it is the pride of the residents of the city of Kansas. Its construction became one of the most significant events on the path of transformation provincial town to a thriving metropolis. The library has ten branches, the main one of which is the largest and has special collections. The library's arsenal is 2.5 million books, attendance is more than 2.4 million clients per year.

The history of the library begins in 1873, when it opened its doors to readers and immediately became not only a source of resources for education, but also an excellent alternative to other entertainment establishments of the time. The public library has moved many times, and in 1999 it was moved to former building First National Bank. The century-old building was a true masterpiece of craftsmanship: marble columns, bronze doors and walls richly decorated with stucco. But still it required reconstruction. With the help of public-private cooperation, funds collected from the state and municipal budgets, 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 and is, in fact, an oven, the Solar Oven in France is designed to generate and concentrate the high temperatures required for various processes. This happens by trapping 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, and the Eastern Pyrenees was chosen as the most suitable location. To this day, the Furnace remains the largest in the world. The array of mirrors is assigned the functions of a parabolic reflector, and the high temperature regime at the very focus it can reach up to 3500°C. You can regulate the temperature by changing the angles of the mirrors.

Using this natural resource Like sunlight, a solar oven is considered indispensable for producing high temperatures. And they, in turn, are used for a variety of processes. Thus, the production of hydrogen requires a temperature of 1400°C. Test modes for spacecraft and nuclear reactors require a temperature of 2500°C, and without a temperature of 3500°C it is impossible to create nanomaterials. In short, the Solar Furnace is not just an amazing building, but also vital and efficient. At the same time, it is considered an environmentally friendly and relatively cheap way to obtain high temperatures.

"Robert Ripley's House"

(Niagara Falls, Canada)

"Ripley's House" in Orlando is an illustration of the theme not of technological revolution, but of natural disasters. This house was built in memory of the magnitude 8 earthquake that happened here in 1812.

Today, the allegedly cracked building is recognized as one of the most photographed buildings in the world. "Believe it or not!" (Ripley's Believe It or Not!) is a patented network of so-called Ripley Auditoriums (museums of strange and incredible things), of which there are more than 30 in the world.

The idea came from 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 “Believe it or not!” was opened after Ripley's death, 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 the best museum cities. The Auditorium building is built in the shape of the falling Empire State Building (New York) with King Kong standing on the roof.

Boot house

(Pennsylvania, USA)

The shoe house in Pennsylvania (York County) was conceived by a very successful businessman, Colonel Mahlon N. Heintz. 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 ordered an architect to create unusual structure shaped like a shoe. 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 live 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 filled with cement. Surprisingly, even the mailbox of this house is made in the shape of a shoe. There is a boot in the bars on the windows and doors. Near the house there is a dog kennel, which was also made in the shape of a shoe. And even the sign located on the road has shoes. But in fact, the shoe house has such an orientation only from the outside. Inside, this is a completely comfortable home, quite cozy and spacious. An external staircase (most likely a fire staircase) is mounted on the side of the house, allowing access to all five tiers of the unusual building.

Dome house

(Florida, USA)

After a series of destructive hurricanes and tropical storms in the state of Florida (USA), as a result of which Mark and Valeria Sigler were left without a roof over their heads each 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 structure and a unique design.

For people living in coastal zone, it is very important that they have somewhere to return after the 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 Sigler house fits perfectly into the surrounding landscape: the dome perfectly suits the surroundings of dunes, ponds and vegetation. The structure of the building is made of modern environmentally friendly materials that can last for several centuries.

Cube buildings

(Rotterdam, 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 rotated the parallelepiped of the house by 45 degrees and placed it at an angle on a hexagonal pylon. There are 38 of these houses in Rotterdam and two more super-cubes, all of which 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.
● The first is a living room with a kitchen.
● Second – two bedrooms with a bathroom.
● Upper – sometimes a small garden is planted here.

The walls and windows are inclined at an angle of 54.7 degrees in relation to the floor. The total area of ​​the apartment is about 100 m2, but 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)

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 most high hotel in the world until another Dubai hotel appeared - the Rose Tower - 333 m high, which opened in April 2008.

Construction of the hotel began in 1994, and it opened to visitors on December 1, 1999. The hotel was built in the shape of the sail of a dhow, an Arabian ship. Closer to the top there is a helipad, and on the other side is the El Muntaha restaurant (from Arabic - “the highest”). Both are supported by cantilever beams.

Absolute Towers

Just like any other booming suburb North America, Mississauga is looking for its new architectural identity. Towers "Absolute" steel new opportunity to respond to the needs of an ever-expanding city, to create a residential landmark that will claim to be more than just efficient housing. They can create a permanent emotional connection for residents with their hometown. Such a structure can easily be 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 modern society. These buildings are much more than just multifunctional machines. It is something beautiful, human and alive. The towers play an important role as a gateway to the city, located at the intersection of two main city streets.

Despite the special status of these towers as a significant landmark, the emphasis in the design was not on their height, as is the case with most of the tallest buildings in the world. The design features continuous balconies that surround the entire building, eliminating the vertical barriers traditionally used in high-rise architecture. The Absolute towers rotate in different projections on different levels, blending with the surrounding landscapes. The designers' goal 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 50 floors is 150 m.

Pabellon de Aragon

(Zaragoza, Spain)

The building, which looks like a wicker basket, appeared in Zaragoza in 2008. The construction was timed to coincide with the full-scale exhibition Expo 2008, dedicated to the problems of water shortage on the planet. The Aragon Pavilion, literally woven from glass and steel, is crowned with strange-looking structures placed on the roof.

According to its creators, the structure reflects the deep imprint 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 the planet's water resources.

(Graz, Austria)

This museum-gallery of contemporary art was opened as part of the “ Capital of Culture Europe" in 2003. The building concept was developed by London architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier. The facade of the museum was made by realities:united using BIX technology as a media installation with an area of ​​900 m2, consisting of luminous elements that can be programmed using a computer. It allows the museum to communicate with the surrounding urban space.

The installation won a number of awards. The BIX façade was conceived when the rest of the building was already being worked out. In addition to the late deadlines, it was difficult to integrate into the concepts of other authors. In addition, the facade, without a doubt, became the dominant element of the architectural image. The architect-authors accepted the facade design because it was based on their original ideas about 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 built according to a design by Santiago Calatrava in 2003.

The Auditorio de Tenerife building is located in the city center, near 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 both sides of the building. 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 shape of a huge disk with a hole inside. It will house the Guangdong Plastics Exchange. The final cosmetic work is currently underway here.

The coin building, 33 floors and 138 meters high, has an opening with a diameter of almost 50 meters, which has a functional, as well as design, significance. The main shopping area will be located around it. It is obvious that the building has already become one of the main attractions of Guangdong province. However, opinions are divided regarding its symbolic meaning.

The Italian company that developed the project claims that the shape is based on jade discs that were 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 the people already nicknamed this building “the disk of the wasteful rich.” It has not yet been announced when the building will be open to visitors.

"Stone Cave"

(Barcelona, ​​Spain)

Construction began in 1906, and by 1910 the five-story building had already become one of the most famous buildings in Barcelona. Locals They dubbed it “La Pedrera” - a stone cave. And indeed, the house resembled a real cave. When creating it, Gaudi basically abandoned straight lines. The five-story residential building was built without a single corner. The architect made the load-bearing structures not walls, but columns and vaults, which gave him unlimited scope in the layout of rooms, the heights of which were different.

In order for a sufficient amount of light to penetrate into each room with such a complex layout, Gaudi 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 cliff 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 has nothing to do with music. In the violin there is an escalator, and in the piano there is an exhibition complex in which plans of streets and districts of the city are presented to visitors. The facility was created at the suggestion of local authorities.

The unusual building seeks to attract the attention of Chinese residents and numerous tourists to the new developing area, in which it 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 at night, the body of the object disappears in the darkness, leaving only the neon contours of the silhouettes of giant “tools” visible. 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 outrageousness than art and functionality.

CCTV Headquarters

(Beijing, China)

CCTV headquarters 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 company).

The skyscraper is 234 m high and 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 building's façade with an empty center. The total floor area is 473,000 m².

The construction of the building was considered a difficult task, especially considering its location in a seismic zone. 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 Hotel Group, a visitor center, a large public theater and exhibition spaces.

A park Ferrari entertainment World

(Yas Island, Abu Dhabi)

Ferrari Theme Park is housed under a 200,000 m² roof and is the world's largest indoor theme park. Ferrari World officially opened on November 4, 2010. It is also home to the world's fastest pneumatic roller coaster– Formula Rossa.

The symbolic roof of Ferrari World was designed by Benoy architects. It was designed based on the profile of the Ferrari GT. Ramboll provided structural engineering, integrated planning and urban design, geotechnical engineering and building façade design. The total roof area is 200,000 m² with a perimeter of 2,200 m, the park area 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 there is a hundred-meter glass funnel.

Innovative residential complex Reversible-Destiny Lofts

(Tokyo, Japan)

According to the architect's plan, the apartments in the complex he created are designed in such a way that their inhabitants are always on alert. Uneven multi-level floors, concave and convex walls, doors that you can only enter by bending over, rosettes on the ceiling - in a word, not life, but a complete adventure. It is impossible to relax in such conditions.

A person is constantly fighting with the environment, so there is simply no time left to mope or think about illnesses. Whether this is shock therapy or a joyful game is still unclear. But the Japanese, reserved and subservient to traditions and taste, are willing to pay twice as much for uncomfortable apartments as for comfortable and familiar ones located in the same area. It’s interesting that all the “apartments” are rented and are not sold as property. Moreover, the 83-year-old Buddhist nun and popular writer Jakute Setouchi, who was the first to settle in the new house, claims that since the move she began to feel younger and much better.

"Thin House"

(London, Great Britain)

The unusual residential building, also known as the Thin House, is located near the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London. This house became famous throughout the world thanks 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 among Londoners and tourists. The reason for this architectural idea is not accidental. The South Kensington underground train line runs directly 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 disadvantages, apartments in “thin” buildings are very popular among those wishing to acquire new housing.

Academy Chapel Air Force

(Colorado, USA)

Startling appearance The Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel in Colorado Springs caused some controversy when it was completed in 1963, but is now considered one of the finest examples of modern American architecture.

Made from steel, aluminum and glass, the Cadet Chapel has 17 pointed spiers reminiscent of fighter jets taking to the skies. Inside there are two main levels and one basement. There is a Protestant chapel with 1200 seats, 500 seats 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 range 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. Church 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, like the leading edge of a fighter plane's wing. The walls of the chapel are decorated with paintings, which are divided into three groups: brotherhood, flight (in honor of the Air Force) and justice.

On the lower level there are multi-faith rooms, defined as places of worship for cadets of other religious groups. They are left without religious symbolism so that they can be used by many people.

The Greatest Man-Made Structures Worth Seeing

Sometimes tourists want something grandiose, majestic and unusual so much that they are ready to go around the whole world in search of the most amazing sights. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the list of the largest structures in the world. Perhaps you have already seen something, but you are just about to see some structure.

• Great Wall of China (China)

Great Wall of China (China) © gettyimages.com

This structure, with a total length of 6350 km, was erected at the turn of the 15th-16th centuries. Perhaps the Great Wall of China is the most grandiose landmark ever created by human hands. And what people are not capable of doing for the sake of self-preservation.

• Taj Mahal (Agra, India)

Taj Mahal (Agra, India) © gettyimages.com

A very beautiful mosque-mausoleum, built in the middle of the 17th century on the banks of the Jamna River by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his wife. This greatest building of its kind is called the Indian Pearl. And not in vain, because up to 5 million tourists visit the Taj Mahal every year. Here it is, a symbol of true and eternal love!

• Machu Picchu (Peru)

Machu Picchu (Peru) © gettyimages.com

Although much has been written about the lost city of the Incas, tourists are increasingly coming to see the stronghold of one of the ancient civilizations, the complex of unique structures is still full of mysteries and secrets. And who knows if Machu Picchu will ever reveal all its secrets. Maybe ask the Sun Temple about this?

• Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

Angkor Wat (Cambodia) © gettyimages.com

This one is huge temple complex was built in the 12th century in honor of the god Vishnu. Angkor Wat, the greatest place of worship, is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.

• Stonehenge (Wiltshire, England)

Stonehenge (Wiltshire, England) © gettyimages.com

To this day, scientists around the world argue about the purpose of this structure. Someone believed that the “stone hedge” was a Druid sanctuary many thousands of years ago. Others linked Stonehenge to astronomy. Of course, the structure is very similar to an astronomical observatory, but scientific evidence no to this.

• Pyramids (Giza, Egypt)

Pyramids (Giza, Egypt) © gettyimages.com

The one-of-a-kind complex of pharaonic tombs is not in vain one of the seven wonders of the world. It’s hard to even imagine how all this was built in the 2nd millennium BC. e. And the interest of tourists in this greatest building of all times will probably never fade away.

• Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)

Eiffel Tower (Paris, France) © gettyimages.com

Everyone knows this building. Even those who have never been to France. After all, the Eiffel Tower has long become a unique symbol of the country. By the way, this unusual building is the most visited attraction in the world. Since its construction in 1889, the tower has been visited by about 250 million people.

• Big Ben (London, UK)

Big Ben (London, UK) © gettyimages.com

If you think that Big Ben is the name of the clock tower in Great Britain, then you are not entirely right. In fact, Big Ben is the largest bell in the clock mechanism. But traditionally, Big Ben is called both the clock and the tower itself.

• Chrysler Corporation Building (New York, USA)

Yes, the Chrysler Corporation is known not only for its cars, but also for its original skyscraper, which has become one of the symbols of New York. This building, 319 m high, was built in 1930, and for some time now it no longer belongs to the automobile corporation.

• Mount Rushmore National Memorial (South Dakota, USA)

Mount Rushmore National Memorial (South Dakota, USA) © gettyimages.com

You may have seen Mount Rushmore in many movies and TV shows. Carved into a huge mass of granite rock are huge images of four US presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The total height of the bas-relief is 18.6 m.

By volume

Here the undisputed leader is the company's plant Boeing in the city of Everett, pc. Washington (USA). Its volume is 13,385,378 cubic meters. m, and the area is 399,480 sq. m (number three in the world in terms of base area). This giant, almost a kilometer long, 500 meters wide and the height of a five-story building (to accommodate more than 20-meter keels of airliners and still have room) was built in 1966–1968, when Boeing began producing the Boeing 747. Even today they collect the most large aircraft companies, and many at the same time. Up to 30 thousand people work at the plant under the light of one million lamps.

“This building is so large that clouds gather under the roof and rain from them,” they claim on the Internet. This is a myth: the building has effective ventilation, and despite the humid and cool climate of Washington State, advanced modern airliners are assembled in dry and fairly comfortable conditions

Number two in the world in terms of volume is the Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca: almost half the volume, about 8 million cubic meters. But number three (5.6 million cubic meters) is also an aircraft plant, and it belongs to the main competitor Boeing, companies Airbus. The largest airliner in the world is assembled at the Jean-Luc Lagardère plant in Toulouse (France). A380.

During the Hajj, up to 4 million people can be in the Al-Haram Mosque

Deserves special mention Aereum- hangar built in the mid-1990s by a German company Cargolifter AG 50 km south of Berlin for the construction of airships. This dome measures 360×210 meters and is up to 107 m high (St. Basil's Cathedral from Red Square can easily fit into it - with all the turrets, domes and basement, and there will still be room left) covers the largest space in the world undivided by partitions - a volume of 5.2 million cubic meters. Business Cargolifter AG didn’t go, so in 2004 they opened a year-round tropical theme park with groves, ponds and waterfalls. It is called Tropical Islands Resort.

The park is open 24 hours a day - you can even stay there overnight

By area on a piece of land

Here we are talking exactly about what plot of land the building occupies. According to this indicator number one - Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer, a building in the Dutch town of Aalsmeer where a flower auction is held every morning from Monday to Friday. Millions of flowers from all over the world are brought annually into this structure, measuring 700x750 m and with an area (on the surface) of half a million square meters, most reminiscent of a warehouse about two floors high. Here they are sold, bought and immediately hit the road again, fortunately Amsterdam airport is nearby and sea ​​ports near.

About 20 million flowers pass through this building every day.

Number two - with a slight lag - the automaker's factory Tesla in Fremont, pc. California: about 427 thousand square meters. m. In general, among the largest buildings in terms of surface area, there are a lot of logistics centers and warehouses. The top ten largest structures in the world by this indicator, in addition to those mentioned, also include logistics centers Michelin, Nike And John Deere(all in the USA). This makes sense: products ready to be shipped around the world are easiest to place in these long, flat spaces.

By total area of ​​premises

Unlike the previous paragraph, this takes into account the area of ​​all premises of the structure. And Asia is in the lead here: the largest building in the world by this indicator is located in China, in the city of Chengdu. This is the Global Center " New Age» with an area of ​​about 1.76 million sq. m. For comparison: the total area of ​​the premises of the Aviapark shopping center, one of the largest in Moscow, is about 460 thousand square meters. m. The length of the “New Century” is 500 meters, width - 400 meters, height - 100 meters, and inside, in addition to cinema and hotel shops, there are also offices, a center for contemporary art and a water park with an artificial beach (sunrises and sunsets are depicted on giant screens) .

The cyclopean complex in the new district of Chengdu was built in three years - from 2010 to 2013

The main competitors of this kind of complexes around the world are airports. Okay, number two total area premises - terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport in the UAE with an indicator of 1.71 million sq. m. It was built to serve up to 43 million people (this is more than the entire Sheremetyevo airport in 2017), despite the fact that only two airlines use the terminal - local Emirates and Australian Qantas. Also in the top ten (in sixth position) is the 3rd terminal of Beijing Capital Airport (also known as Beijing Capital). It is noteworthy that the leader in the previous category is the building flower auction in Aalsmeer - entered the top five in this one too: the useful area of ​​the building is almost twice as large as the surface area - 990,000 thousand square meters. m.

Special categories

Speaking about the largest buildings and structures in the world, it is impossible not to mention a few more. Let's say - the largest structure ever built on the planet, stretching for 9 thousand kilometers through China (its total length - with all its branches - is even greater: 21 thousand kilometers).

The tallest building on the planet today is the 828-meter Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai (UAE).

Apparently, the Burj Khalifa skyscraper does not have long to bear the honorary title of the tallest building in the world: in 2020, in the same emirate of Dubai, it is planned to open a building 100 meters higher. And if everything goes according to plan, then at the other end of the Arabian Peninsula, in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), a tower with a height of 1004 meters will be completed in the same year

The heaviest building in the world - for readers Palace of Parliament in Bucharest (Romania). It weighs more than 4 billion kilograms. It was laid in 1984 on the orders of dictator Ceausescu in the center of Bucharest, destroying a significant part of the historical buildings of the city and even tearing down a hill, and it took more than ten years to build. Today, in addition to the Romanian parliament, it houses a museum of modern art and several government institutions. However, the building is only 70% full and, apparently, will never be fully used.

Photo: Maurice King / en.wikipedia.org, julhandiarso / Getty Images, Tropical Islands Resort / en.wikipedia.org, Visions Of Our Land / Getty Images, Sino Images / Getty Images, Momentaryawe.com / Getty Images