The most mysterious ancient buildings. The most mysterious buildings in the world

Suspension bridges and skyscrapers are marvels of modern engineering, but some of the most impressive structures in the world have been

built thousands of years ago. In our list you will find several amazing architectural monuments, each of

which was created long before the birth of Christ.

The great Wall of China

The Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang commissioned the construction of a structure that turned into the Great Wall of China.

The length of this monumental structure exceeds 10,000 kilometers.

newgrange

Approximately four days a year, starting from the day of the winter solstice, the rays of the sun penetrate the top of this monument and

fall to the floor of the inner chamber, filling ancient temple light. Built long before Stonehenge (3200 B.C.)

Newgrange was most likely used as religious building. The remains of an earthen rampart around allow

to assume that the inhabitants of the village could defend themselves from the invasion here.

Acropolis

The first buildings that formed the Acropolis in Athens were destroyed by the Persians around 480 BC. Complete reconstruction

the majestic building took the Greeks fifty years - but the work was really worth it. The highlight of the Acropolis

the famous Parthenon was considered, where once stood a beautiful statue of Athena, made of gold and ivory.

Göbekli Tepe

This is the first temple in the world, built as far back as 9000 BC. The statues placed here date back a thousand years earlier. A

the most interesting thing is that some design features still baffle archaeologists: T-shaped pillars weigh more than 60

tons - how people of a primitive society generally coped with them.

stonehenge

Perhaps the most famous archaeological site on the planet. Stonehenge was built in 3000 BC from different type stone -

some of them, it is not clear how, were delivered to the place for 300 kilometers. In addition, scientists continue to debate about

the true purpose of Stonehenge. The strangest theories are put forward: from the ancient mystical cult to the advanced

astronomical instrument.

Karnak stones

Most likely this ancient monument served people to track the movement of the sun and stars. Just think, in 4500

BC. our ancestors were able to carry out the most complex mathematical calculations, building for this interesting and original

cars. As many as 3,000 stones are placed in strict order on the field, some weighing more than several tons.

Megalithic Temples

Group of six temples different style- one of the favorite tourist destinations in Malta. Megalithic buildings are notable

not only by their age (they date back to 3500 BC), but also by their direct connection with modern technical solutions.

Knap of Howar

A simple stone house? Not really. Before you - the oldest of the houses in northern Europe. Two Knap of Howar buildings connected

a tricky passage, and right from the door opens a beautiful view of the sea. A hole in the roof indicates that the house has been heated.

fire, preserved furniture - stone.

Old or new, with complex or simple structures, these buildings are undoubtedly the most incredible in the world. There are attractive, there are unusual, and there are just crazy buildings that do not look like anything. Sometimes it is even difficult to immediately understand what is in front of you - a house or something else?

Lotus Temple

(Delhi, India)

The main Bahai temple in India and neighboring countries, built in 1986. Located in New Delhi, the capital of India. A huge building made of snow-white Pentelian marble in the shape of a blossoming lotus flower is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Delhi. Known as the main temple of the Indian subcontinent and the main attraction of the city.

The Lotus Temple has won several architectural awards and has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles. In 1921, the young Bombay Baha'i community asked 'Abdu'l-Bahá for permission to build a Baha'i temple in Bombay, to which the answer was allegedly given: "By the will of God in the future, a majestic temple of worship will be erected in one of the central cities of India," that is, in Delhi. .

"Khan Shatyr"

(Astana, Kazakhstan)

A large shopping and entertainment center in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana (architect - Norman Foster). Opened on July 6, 2010, it is considered the largest tent in the world. total area"Khan Shatyr" - 127,000 m2. It houses retail and entertainment complexes, including a supermarket, family park, cafes and restaurants, cinemas, gyms, a water park with an artificial beach and pools with a wave effect, service and office premises, parking for 700 cars 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. 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 in this amazing place Any Tyumen citizen can visit: Astana is only a nine-hour drive away.

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 library building houses 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. A variety of materials were used in the design of the facade: from glass to stone, and the roof made of enameled plates resembles the back of a dragon. Doors and windows are equally asymmetrical and bizarrely curved, giving the house the appearance of some kind of fabulous hut.

The crooked house works around the clock. During the day, a shopping center, cafes and other establishments are open here, and in the evening - pubs and clubs. In the dark, the house becomes even more beautiful. In 2009, the building was recognized as one of the seven wonders of the Tricity, which includes the cities of Gdynia, Gdansk and Sopot. According to a recent poll by The Village of Joy, 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 nearing completion. This building has already officially entered the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest teapot in the world. The choice of this form is not accidental: clay teapots have been considered symbols of the Celestial Empire since the 15th century. They are still produced in Jiangsu Province, where the Wuxi Wanda Exhibition Center is located. In addition to the manufacture of clay teapots, China is also famous for its elite varieties of tea.

Real estate developer The Wanda Group announced that it has spent 40 billion yuan ($6.4 billion) to build the cultural and exhibition center. The result is a structure with an area of ​​3.4 million m2, a height of 38.8 m and a diameter of 50 m. Outside, the building is sheathed with aluminum sheets, which provide the necessary curvature of the frame. In addition to them, stained-glass windows of various sizes play an important role.

Exhibition halls, a water park, a roller coaster, and a Ferris wheel will be located in the Wuxi Wanda center. In addition, each of the three floors of the building will be able to rotate on its own axis. The cultural and exhibition center is part of the Tourism City shopping and entertainment complex, the construction of which is planned to be completed by 2017.

"Habitat 67"

(Montreal, Canada)

An unusual residential complex in Montreal was designed by architect Moshe Safdie in 1966-1967. The complex was built for the start of the Expo 67 exhibition, one of the largest world exhibitions of that time, the theme of which was houses and residential construction.

The basis of the structure is 354 cubes built on top of each other. It was they who made it possible to create this gray building with 146 apartments, where families live who have exchanged a quiet house in a residential area for such a non-standard house. Most apartments on the roof of the neighbor downstairs have a private garden.

Brutalism is considered the building style. Habitat 67 was built over 45 years ago, but it still impresses with its scale. This is, without a doubt, one of the few modern utopias that not only came true, but also became very popular and was even recognized as elite.

dancing building

(Prague, Czech Republic)

Office building in Prague in the style of deconstructivism consists of two cylindrical towers: conventional and destructive. Jokingly called "Ginger and Fred", the Dancing House is an architectural metaphor for the dancing couple Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. One of the two cylindrical parts, which expands upward, symbolizes a male figure (Fred), and the second visually resembles a female figure with a thin waist and a skirt fluttering in dance (Ginger).

Like many deconstructivist buildings, the building contrasts sharply with its neighbor - an integral architectural complex of the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. The office center, which houses several international companies, is located in Prague 2, on the corner of Resslova Street and the embankment. On the roof there is a French restaurant with a view of Prague La Perle de Prague.

forest spiral building

(Darmstadt, Germany)

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

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

upside down house

(Szymbark, Poland)

The unique house, which stands on the roof, is decorated in the socialist style of the 1970s. An upside-down house evokes strange sensations: the entrance is on the roof, everyone enters through the window, and the guests walk along the ceiling. The interior is decorated in the style of socialist realism: there is a lounge with a TV and chest of drawers. There is also a table made of the longest solid board in the world - 36.83 m. Of course, the Guinness Book of Records did not ignore him.

The construction of the building took more time and money than for the erection of a conventional house of the same size. The foundation required 200 m³ of concrete. The author of the project was asked many times if his project is related to commercial purposes. The answer was always a stubborn "no". However, the house-shifter turned out to be a commercial success.

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, besides, it sparkles in the sun thanks to the interspersed pieces of glass in the plaster. The white represents the purity of the Buddha, while the glass symbolizes the wisdom of the Buddha and the Dharma, the Buddhist teachings. They say the best time to visit the White Temple is at sunrise or sunset, when it is beautifully reflected in the sun.

The construction of the temple began in 1997 and continues to this day. It is being built by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat using his own funds from the sale of paintings. The artist refused sponsors: he wants to make the temple the way only he wants.

basket building

(Ohio, USA)

The basket building was built in 1997. The weight of the structure is approximately 8500 tons, the weight of the supporting supports is 150 tons. Nearly 8,000 m3 of reinforced concrete was used in the construction. The usable area of ​​the building is 180,000 square feet. The basket is located on the territory of about 20,000 square feet (approximately 2200 m2) and completely copies one of the trademarks of its owner.

When the architect of the project, Nikolina Georgievsha, found out about what was ahead of her, she exclaimed: “Wow! I have never done this before!" Indeed, this building cannot be called standard in any way. Unlike other buildings, it expands upwards. This made it possible to significantly increase the working space of the offices: the building is designed for a staff of 500 employees. Not bad, considering that the building also has a seven-story atrium with an area of ​​3300 m2, around which the offices are located. In addition, the first floor is occupied by a theater-like auditorium with 142 seats. The building claims to be a bit pompous: the design includes two slabs attached to the building with the owner's trademark, covered with 23 carat gold.

(Sanji, Taiwan)

The strange and wonderful town of Sanji in Taiwan is 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 at the disposal of the library are not only the most modern technologies and excellent quality of service, but also conference rooms, cafes, observation hall 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 is entrusted with the functions of a parabolic reflector, and a high temperature regime in the focus itself can reach up to 3500°C. You can adjust the temperature by changing the angles of the mirrors.

Using a natural resource such as sunlight, the Solar Furnace is considered indispensable for obtaining high temperatures. And they, in turn, are used for various processes. Thus, the production of hydrogen requires a temperature of 1400°C. Test modes of spacecraft and nuclear reactors provide for a temperature of 2500°C, and without a temperature of 3500°C it is impossible to create nanomaterials. In a word, the Solar Furnace is not just an amazing building, but also a vital and efficient one. At the same time, it is considered an environmentally friendly and relatively cheap way to get high temperatures.

"Robert Ripley's House"

(Niagara Falls, Canada)

Ripley's House in Orlando is an illustration not of a technical revolution, but of a natural disaster. This house was built to commemorate the magnitude 8 earthquake that hit here in 1812.

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

The idea belongs to Robert Ripley (1890–1949), an American cartoonist, entrepreneur and anthropologist. The first traveling collection, Ripley's Auditorium, was presented in Chicago in 1933 during the World's Fair. On a permanent basis, the first museum "If you want - believe it, if you want - no!" was opened after the death of Ripley, in 1950 in Florida, in the city of St. Augustine. The Canadian Museum of the same name was founded in 1963 in the city of Niagara Falls ( Niagara Falls, Ontario) and still has a reputation as the best museum in the city. The Auditorium building was built in the form of a falling Empire State Building (New York) with King Kong standing on the roof.

shoe house

(Pennsylvania, USA)

The shoe house in Pennsylvania (York County) was conceived by a very successful businessman, Colonel Mahlon N. Heinz. At that time, he owned a thriving shoe company, which included about 40 shoe stores. At that time, Heinz was already 73 years old, but he loved his business so much that he commissioned an architect to create an unusual structure in the shape of a boot. This was in 1948. Already in 1949, the dream of a shoe businessman was realized, and the restless Mahlon N. Heinz was able not only to admire the extraordinary building, but also to settle there.

The length of this house is 12 m, height - 8. Its facade was made as follows: first a wooden frame was created, which was then poured with cement. Surprisingly, even the mailbox of this house is made in the shape of a shoe. There are shoes and bars on the windows and doors. Near the house there is a dog kennel, which was also made in the form of a boot. And even on the sign, located on the road, there are shoes. But in fact, the shoe house has such an orientation only from the outside. Inside, this is quite a comfortable dwelling, quite cozy and spacious. On the side of the house, there is an external staircase (most likely a fire escape) that allows access to all five tiers of the unusual building.

dome house

(Florida, USA)

After a series of devastating hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida (USA), which left Mark and Valeria Sigler homeless every time, they decided to build a house that could withstand the pressure of the elements and at the same time be beautiful and comfortable. The result of their work was a house with an unusually strong construction and unique design.

For people living in 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 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 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 booming suburb North America Mississauga is looking for her 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 most tall buildings peace. Due to the design features, continuous balconies surround the entire building, eliminating the vertical barriers traditionally used in high-rise architecture. Towers "Absolute" rotate in different projections at different levels, combined with the surrounding landscapes. The aim of the designers was to provide 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 European Capital of Culture program in 2003. The concept of the building was developed by London-based architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier. The facade of the museum was designed by realities:united using BIX technology as a 900 m2 media installation consisting of luminous elements that can be programmed with a computer. It allows the museum to communicate with the surrounding urban space.

The installation has won a number of awards. The BIX façade was conceived when the rest of the building was already being developed. In addition to the late deadlines, it was difficult to integrate into the concept of other authors. In addition, the facade, without a doubt, became the dominant element of the architectural image. The design architects accepted the façade design because it was based on their original ideas for a large luminous surface.

Concert hall

(Canary Islands, Spain)

One of the most famous and recognizable buildings in Spain, the symbol of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, one of the most significant works of modern architecture and one of the main attractions canary islands. The opera was designed by Santiago Calatrava in 2003.

The Auditorio de Tenerife building is located in the city center, close to the César Manrique Marine Park, the city's port and the twin towers of Torres de Santa Cruz. There is a tram station nearby. You can enter the opera hall from two sides of the building at once. The Auditorio de Tenerife has two terraces overlooking the sea.

coin building

(Guangzhou, China)

IN Chinese city Guangzhou 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, along with its reflection in pearl river on which the building stands, it forms the number 8. According to the Chinese, it brings good luck. However, many citizens of Guangzhou saw in this building a Chinese coin, symbolizing the desire for material wealth, and among the people this building has already been nicknamed the "disc of the prodigal rich." No word yet on when the building will be open to the public.

"Stone Cave"

(Barcelona, ​​Spain)

Construction began in 1906, and in 1910 the five-story building had already become one of the most famous buildings in Barcelona. The locals dubbed it "La Pedrera" - a stone cave. Indeed, the house resembled a real cave. When it was created, Gaudí basically abandoned straight lines. The five-story residential building was erected without a single corner. The architect did not make walls as load-bearing structures, but columns and vaults, which gave him unlimited scope in the layout of rooms, the ceiling heights of which are different.

In order to get enough light into each room with such a complex layout, Gaudí had to make several courtyards with light ovals. Thanks to these numerous ovals, windows and undulating balconies, the house looks like a block of solidified lava. Or on a rock with caves.

Music building

(Huainan, China)

Piano House consists of two parts depicting two instruments: a transparent violin rests on a translucent piano. The unique building was built for music lovers, but it has nothing to do with music. An escalator is located in the violin, and an exhibition complex is located in the piano, in which the plans of streets and districts of the city are presented to the attention of visitors. The object was created at the suggestion of local authorities.

The unusual building seeks to attract the attention of Chinese residents and numerous tourists to the new developing area, which has become the most iconic object. Thanks to the continuous glazing of the facades with transparent and tinted glass, the premises of the complex receive the maximum possible natural light. And in the dark, the body of the object is hidden in the dark, leaving visible only the neon contours of the silhouettes of giant "tools". Despite its popularity, the building is often criticized as a kind of postmodern kitsch and a typical student project, in which there is much more shocking than art and functionality.

CCTV Headquarters

(Beijing, China)

The headquarters of CCTV is a skyscraper in Beijing. The building will house the headquarters of China Central Television. Construction work began on September 22, 2004 and was completed in 2009. The architects of the building are Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren (OMA).

The skyscraper with a height of 234 m consists of 44 floors. The main building is built in an unusual style and is a ring-shaped structure of five horizontal and vertical sections, forming an irregular lattice on the facade of the building with an empty center. The total floor area is 473,000 m².

The construction of the building was considered a daunting task, especially given its location in an earthquake-prone area. Because of its unusual shape, it has already acquired the nickname "pants". The second building, the Television Cultural Center, will house the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, a visitor center, a large community theater and exhibition space.

Ferrari World Amusement Park

(Yas Island, Abu Dhabi)

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

The emblematic roof of Ferrari World was designed by Benoy architects. It was designed based on the profile of the Ferrari GT. Ramboll provided the structure design, integrated planning and urban design, geotechnical engineering, and building facade design. The total roof area is 200,000 m² with a perimeter of 2200 m, and the area of ​​the park is 86,000 m², making it the largest theme park in the world.

The roof of the building is decorated with the Ferrari logo measuring 65 by 48.5 m. This is the largest company logo ever created. 12,370 tons of steel were used to support the roof. In its center is a hundred-meter glazed funnel.

Innovative residential complex Reversible-Destiny Lofts

(Tokyo, Japan)

As conceived by the architect, the apartments in the complex he created are designed in such a way that their inhabitants are always on the alert. Uneven multi-level floors, concave and convex walls, doors that can only be entered by bending over, sockets on the ceiling - in a word, not life, but a continuous adventure. Relax in such conditions will not succeed.

Man is constantly fighting environment, so there is simply no time to mope or think about sores. What is it - shock therapy or a joyful game, is not yet clear. But restrained and subservient to traditions and taste, the Japanese are ready to pay twice as much for uncomfortable apartments than for comfortable and familiar ones located in the same area. It is interesting that all the "apartments" are rented, they are not for sale. Moreover, the 83-year-old Buddhist nun and popular writer Jakute Setouti, who was the first to live in a new house, claims that since the move she began to feel younger and much better.

"Slim House"

(London, Great Britain)

An unusual residential building, also known as "Slim House", is located near the Natural History Museum in South Kensington (London). This house became famous throughout the world due to its wedge-shaped shape, or rather, the width of one of the sides of the building - a little more than a meter.

At first glance, the incredibly narrow structure of the building is just an optical illusion. Despite this, The Thin House has become very popular with Londoners and tourists. The reason for such an architectural idea is not accidental. South Kensington tube station train line runs right behind the house.

Due to the unusual design of the house, the apartments do not have a standard rectangular shape, but a trapezoid shape. For narrow rooms it is necessary to select non-standard furniture. In any case, despite a number of shortcomings, apartments in a “thin” structure are very popular among those who want to acquire new housing.

Air Force Academy Chapel

(Colorado, USA)

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

The Cadet Chapel, made of steel, aluminum and glass, has 17 pointed spiers resembling jet fighters flying up into the sky. Inside there are two main levels and one basement. There is a Protestant chapel with 1200 seats, a 500-seat Catholic chapel and a 100-seat Jewish chapel. Each chapel has a separate entrance, so sermons can be held simultaneously without interfering with each other.

The Protestant chapel, which occupies the upper level, has stained-glass windows between the tetrahedral walls. The colors of the windows vary from dark to light, representing God coming from darkness into light. The altar is made of a smooth marble slab 15 feet long, shaped like a ship, symbolizing the church. The pews are designed in such a way that the end of each pew resembles the propeller of a World War I aircraft. Their backs are topped with a strip of aluminum, similar to the leading edge of a wing of a fighter plane. The walls of the chapel are decorated with paintings that are divided into three groups: brotherhood, flight (in honor of the Air Force) and justice.

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

On our planet, along with modern, technologically and industrially developed megacities, there are many places created by ancient masters or by nature itself.

Each such attraction has its own legend and, of course, a lot of things are silent. Mysterious places cause a huge number of questions among scientists, confuse anomalous phenomena and unknown.

1. Devil's Tower, USA

In size, the Devil's Tower is several times larger than the Cheops pyramid and from the outside it resembles a man-made structure. Due to its unrealistic size and unnaturally regular configuration, the rock has become the object of attention of many scientists, and local residents claim that Satan himself built it.

2. Mounds of Cahokia, USA

It is still unknown why almost 40,000 people left their settlement, and which Indian tribes are direct descendants of the Cahokians. Despite this, the mounds of Cahokia are a favorite place for many tourists who come here in the hope of unraveling the mystery of the ancient city.

3. Chavinda, Mexico

Chavinda is of interest to many treasure hunters, because according to legend, this area hides unprecedented riches. Unfortunately, no one has yet been able to find the treasure. Unfortunate treasure hunters often attribute their failures to otherworldly forces.

4. Newgrange, Ireland

It is still unknown how ancient people were able to build such a perfect structure, which for five millennia was not only lucky enough to survive, retaining its primitive appearance, but also to remain completely waterproof.

5. Pyramids of Yonaguni, Japan

In the course of numerous studies, it was possible to establish that the age of the Yonaguni pyramids is more than 10 thousand years. Therefore, if the Yonaguna monuments created mysterious civilizations unknown to us, then the history of mankind should be rewritten.

Mysterious civilization. Underwater cities Yonaguni

6. Geoglyphs of Nazca, Peru

Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to ask the creators, but scientists offer 2 main versions: some, leaning towards the cosmic theory of the origin of geoglyphs, believe that they are landmarks for alien ships, others argue that they are giant lunar calendars. In any case, the Nazca rock paintings are proof of the existence of an ancient and mysterious civilization on the territory of modern Peru, which lived here long before the famous Incas and was distinguished by a high level of development.

7. Black Bamboo Hollow, China

They say that children and pets disappear without a trace here, which has a lot of documentary evidence. Scientists have been interested in the hollow of black bamboo for more than a decade, who managed to prove that the valley in the Chinese province of Sichuan is an anomalous area with a difficult climate and dramatically changing weather conditions, which together provokes soil subsidence, which, according to scientists, are the reasons for the disappearance of people.

8. Path of the Giants, Ireland

Natural landmark belongs to the number of objects world heritage UNESCO. This place deserves admiration, so it is visited annually by more than one thousand tourists from all over the world.

9. Goseck circle, Germany

The original appearance of the building was returned only after a complete reconstruction. Scholars have little doubt that the Goseck Circle was used for astronomical observations and calendaring. This proves that our ancestors also studied space bodies, their movement and kept track of time.

10. Moai Monuments on Easter Island

In total, about 1000 remains of such man-made monuments were found on the island. Most have already gone under water.

Today, the vast majority of the statues are again placed on platforms facing the ocean, from where they continue to meet the guests of the island and remind of the former power of the ancient people who inhabited these expanses.

Easter Island - Moai Message

11 Georgia Guidestones, USA

The height of the monumental structure is a little over six meters, and the slabs are oriented towards the four sides of the world and have holes. In one of them you can see the North Star at any time of the year, in the second - the Sun during the solstice and equinox. A few years ago, the monument was vandalized and damaged by paint, which has not yet been removed.

12. Richat (Eye of the Sahara). Mauritania

This object has an incredibly huge size (up to 50 kilometers in diameter), so it can be seen even from space. The structure has several ellipsoidal rings formed by sedimentary rocks and sandstones about 500 million years ago.

13. "Gate to Hell" - Darvaza crater in Turkmenistan

During such geological research, a group of scientists discovered an underground cavern with natural gas, which almost led to the death of a huge number of people. Therefore, the management decided to set fire to the gas so that it would not threaten the local residents. But the fire, which was supposed to burn no more than 5 days, is still burning, instilling fear in everyone who comes close to it.

Courageous people are ready to take a selfie at the "Gate of Hell"

14. Arkaim, Russia

Arkaim is not only a unique architectural monument with thousand years of history, but also a place of concentration of healing energy flows that can save a person from any diseases.

15. Stonehenge, England

“Well, here we are. Well, let's take a dip. Well, let's have a cocktail. So, what is next? What do we do?" Familiar? If yes - congratulations, you belong to the same type of people who can not sit still. Well, if, besides, limp reclining in deck chairs inspires you as little as strong-willed surfing, then you are completely one of their small, but elite class of aesthetes, greedy for art and architecture.

Admit it, you simply cannot look at Dali's creations without trembling in your knees, the Acropolis brings you into a state close to prayerful ecstasy, and the streets of old Prague almost drive you crazy. Congratulations, you are an "excursion-oriented, ordinary tourist."

All salt excursion tourism lies in the fact that it quietly coexists with a beach holiday, and with a ski holiday, as, indeed, with any other. One does not exclude the other, rather, it complements.

However, there are also entire tours dedicated to sightseeing of cities and capitals, antiquities and natural wonders of all five continents. Such trips are usually chosen by individuals who are married to art or simply greedy for it in a good way, and people who want to see the world on vacation, and not just a couple of paradise, but completely identical atolls.

But, in order to be as honest with yourself as possible, it is still necessary to say that a “naked” excursion will not give you much pleasure - only a messy cocktail of porticoes and rotundas, dozens of museum halls and thousand-year-old ruins will remain in your head.

When choosing a program, do not chase the number of attractions - in the end, go on a trip again. Choose a moderate pace - richly sprinkle excursions with rest, and get the most vivid and fresh impressions.

Leisure destinations

Classic: Europe. The main impact of the excursion element usually falls on Mother Europe with its Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, and other ancient medieval joys. Tours in Europe, which, as you know, are not so great, often cover more than one country. Sometimes tours include visiting world-famous attractions - such as, for example, Versailles in France, the Colosseum in Italy, the Acropolis in Greece. Sometimes there are guided tours exclusively little known places, sometimes - highly specialized tours are organized, for example, in baroque architecture or in temple construction.

ancient civilizations. The second number in the popularity rating are countries that grew up on the ruins of ancient civilizations - Egypt, India, China, Chile, Peru, Mexico. Obviously, such tours take second place not in terms of tourist interest, but in terms of remoteness, expressed not so much in geographical terms as in terms of money. Ancient civilizations that have monuments that take us not even centuries, but millennia, are surprisingly mysterious and therefore alluring. The further into the dust of time - the more secrets, to which, as you know, no one can remain indifferent.

Exotics and ecology. Ancient civilizations are followed by countries with exotic landscapes and landscapes - the Australian Great Barrier Reef, the lakes of the USA, the waterfalls of Nigeria, fantastic nature Galapagos. All this is really unusual. Amazing. Almost unrealistic.

Way of life. Next come countries with an unusual way of life - that is, any place on the planet whose existence is different from our multi-story panel existence. Tunisian Berbers living in caves, Arab countries with their unconditional and bewitching adherence to the laws of the Koran, Japanese culture and American Indian culture. For a civilized person, which, obviously, is the whole excursion-amateur tribe, such differences cause only admiration - at least from an understanding of how diverse the life of people on this planet can be.

Excursion Russia. Well, native Russia closes the top five directions-leaders. The expanses of our country are huge: 9 climatic zones and the same number of time zones mountain ranges, hills, deep rivers, tens and hundreds of natural wonders - Avacha Bay, Kungur Ice Cave, Krasnoyarsk pillars, Uzon caldera... it would be impossible to list them all. And then, there is also the magnificent architecture of our cities - Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, the luxury of folk crafts - Suzdal, Semenov, Gus-Khrustalny. Russia is inexhaustible, great and magnificent, besides, in comparison with all of the above, it is quite budgetary.

We fly into space, race to build skyscrapers, clone living organisms and do a lot of things that until recently seemed impossible. And at the same time, they are still unable to unravel the mysteries of the builders and thinkers who lived millennia ago. An ancient cobblestone weighing a hundred tons surprises us more than a computer the size of half a palm.

1. Stonehenge. UK, Salisbury

Altar, observatory, tomb, calendar? Scientists have not come to a consensus. five thousand years ago an annular ditch and ramparts around it with a diameter of 115 m appeared.

A few centuries later, ancient builders brought here 80 four-ton stones, and a couple of centuries later - 30 megaliths weighing 25 tons. The stones were set in a circle and in the form of a horseshoe.

The form in which Stonehenge has survived to this day is largely the result of human activity in recent centuries. People continued to work on the stones: the peasants chipped off pieces of amulets from them, the tourists marked the territory with inscriptions, and the restorers figured out for the ancients how they had it right.

2. Pyramid of Kukulkan. Mexico, Chichen Itza

They are watching the miracle of the "appearance" of Kukulkan: The serpent moves down along the balustrade of the main staircase. The illusion is created by the play of triangular shadows cast by the nine platforms of the pyramid at the moment when the setting sun illuminates its northwestern corner for 10 minutes. If the sanctuary had been displaced even by a degree, none of this would have happened.

3. Karnak stones. France, Brittany, Carnac

There were legends in Brittany that it was the wizard Merlin who made the ranks of Roman legionnaires turn to stone.

4. Stone balls. Costa Rica

Hoping to find gold inside, the vandals destroyed many balls. Now most of the rest are kept in museums. The diameter of some stones reaches 2.5 meters, weight - 15 tons. Their purpose is unknown.

5. Georgia Guidestones. USA, Georgia, Elbert

towers built without foundation, from superimposed on each other stone blocks, not held together by any solution and held only by their own gravity. The purpose of the nuraghe is unclear. It is characteristic that archaeologists have repeatedly discovered miniature models of these towers made of bronze during excavations.

7. Saxauman. Peru, Cusco

The zigzag battlements, reaching 400 meters in length and six in height, are made of 200-ton stone blocks. How the Incas installed these blocks, how they adjusted them one under the other, is unknown.

From above Saxhuaman looks, like a toothy puma head Cusco(the city was founded in the form of a sacred animal of the Incas).

8. Arkaim. Russia, Chelyabinsk region

The monument was discovered by students and schoolchildren from an archaeological expedition in 1987. (On the picture model-reconstruction.)

9. Newgrange. Ireland, Dublin

The Celts called him Fairy Mound and considered the home of one of their main gods. A round structure made of stone, earth and rubble with a diameter of 85 meters was erected more than 5000 years ago. A corridor leads inside the mound, ending with a ritual chamber.

On the days of the winter solstice, this chamber is brightly illuminated for 15–20 minutes by a ray of sun that enters the window above the tunnel entrance.

10. Coral castle. USA, Florida, Homestead

11. Statues of "Reptilians" French Polynesia, Nuku Hiva island

They are different: there are large large-mouthed "reptilians", and there are others: with small bodies and disproportionately large elongated helmet-heads with huge eyes.

They have one thing in common - evil facial expression. Whether they were aliens from other worlds or just masked priests is unknown. The statues date from around the beginning of the 2nd millennium.

12. Pyramids of Yonaguniya. Japan, Ryukyu archipelago

Not far from it is a large platform with steps, similar to a stadium with spectator stands. One of the objects resembles a huge head, like the moai statues on Easter Island.

There is controversy in the scientific community: many believe that the formations lying on the bottom of the ocean have exclusively natural origin. But loners like Masaaki Kimura, a professor at Ryukyu University who has repeatedly dived to the ruins, insist that a person was involved.

13. Gosek circle. Germany, Gosek

14. Greater Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe, Masvingo

15. Delhi column. India, New Delhi

For unclear reasons, the column, which is almost 100% iron, is virtually indestructible. Scientists are trying to explain this fact for various reasons: the special skill and technology of ancient Indian blacksmiths, dry air and specific climatic conditions in the Delhi region, the formation of a protective shell - in particular, as a result of the fact that the Hindus anointed the sacred monument with oils and incense.

Ufologists, as usual, see in the column another proof of the intervention of extraterrestrial intelligence. But the secret of "stainless steel" has not yet been unraveled.

16. Nazca lines. Peru, Nazca plateau

17. Observatories of Nabta. Nubia, Sahara

18. Antikythera mechanism. Greece, Antikythera

19. Baalbek Plates. Lebanon

The western retaining wall is made up of a series of "trilithons" - three limestone blocks, each more than 19 m long, 4 m high and weighing about 800 tons. Roman technology was not able to lift such a weight. By the way, not far from the complex for more than one thousand years there is another block - under 1000 tons.

20. Gobekli Tepet. Turkey