Famous buildings and structures. The most famous buildings in the world

Since ancient times, people have been fascinated by architecture. Five of the seven wonders of the ancient world are buildings. Architects have always tried to create something original, unusual, they wanted to go beyond the possible and capture the imagination. We offer an overview of the most stunning architectural landmarks in the world.

The Colosseum is also called the Flavian Amphitheater, and it is located in Rome (Italy). This large elliptical-shaped amphitheater is considered the largest in the world. Construction began in 70 AD. during the reign of Emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD. under Emperor Titus. The building was used as a stage for gladiator fights, battles and executions, and could accommodate up to 80,000 spectators.

The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the Moat, also called St. Basil's Cathedral, is a famous Orthodox cathedral located in the very center of Moscow. The shape of the building resembles the flame of a fire that rises into the sky. This is the only example of architecture in this style in Russia. The temple, built by order of Ivan the Terrible in honor of the Kazan campaign, was consecrated in 1561.

This architectural masterpiece is also known as the Blue Mosque. The iconic building is a historical value of Istanbul. The mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Ahmed I. The tomb of the founder is located here. The mosque has one main dome, 6 minarets and 8 middle domes. The name "Blue Mosque" comes from the color of the tiles found on the building's interior walls.

The Taj Mahal is a masterpiece built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The architectural structure combines elements of Persian and Indian cultures. Its the most known part is a white domed marble mausoleum. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and was completed in 1653. In 1983 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The White House in Washington is the official residence and workplace all US presidents since John Adams (1800). It has been the residence of every US president. It was designed by Irish architect James Hoban and built between 1792 and 1800 in the neoclassical style. Today the complex includes the executive office, west wing, east wing and other buildings.

The tower is known throughout the world as Big Ben, although the building's real name is Elizabeth Tower, in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. Big Ben is the nickname given to the large bell that is located in the clock. This name is also used in reference to the clock tower. Designer Charles Barry designed the tower as part of a new palace, which was planned to be located on the site of the old Palace of Westminster, destroyed in a fire in 1834.

The tower is known for its disadvantage - it is tilted to one side. It all started during construction, when the shaky foundation could not support the weight of the structure and caused the building to tilt. The angle of inclination increased until the structure stabilized in the late 20th century and early 21st century.

The Temple of the Holy Family (full name Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família) is located in Barcelona (Spain). This is a huge Roman Catholic church designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. The construction of the temple is not completed, but despite this, in 2010 the temple became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gaudí began his project in 1882-1883, and construction of the temple is scheduled for completion in 2026.

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It received its name from the name of the architect Gustav Eiffel. The tower was built in 1889 and is still considered the tallest building in Paris. The tower is 324 meters high and has three floors for visitors. The iron structure weighs approximately 7,300 tons. The entire tower weighs approximately 10,000 tons. The ground floor contains two restaurants and a cinema hall.

The magnificent building, which is located in Barcelona (Spain), was designed by the architect Antoni Gaudi. Construction of the house lasted from 1906 to 1912. The design of the house is considered the most original and daring due to the wavy stone facades decorated with wrought iron. The building consists of two parts, built around two courtyards, and has a roof topped with dormers, ventilators and chimneys.

The Chrysler Building is a huge skyscraper in New York City. Until 1931, it was considered the tallest building in the world. It was built in the Art Deco style and was used as the headquarters of the Chrysler Corporation from 1930 to the mid-1950s. Construction began in 1928 and lasted until 1930. At that time, the building was considered the tallest structure made by human hands, because its height exceeded 300 meters.

Opera House, created by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, is located in Sydney Harbour. It is one of the most iconic buildings of the 20th century, as well as one of the most famous concert halls in the world. In 2007, this architectural masterpiece received the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Construction began in 1958, and the official opening took place on October 20, 1973.

The Palace of Parliament is located in Bucharest (Romania) and is the largest and darkest civil building in the world. Its construction began during the Ceausescu regime, and this multifunctional building is the seat of both houses of the Romanian Parliament. The total area of ​​the building is 340,000 square meters.

The observation and communications tower, known as the CN Tower, is located in Toronto, Canada. It was built in 1976. At that time, it was the tallest tower in the world. In 1995, this architectural masterpiece was declared one of the seven modern miracles Sveta.

Luxury hotel located in Dubai. Its height is 321 meters, and it ranks 4th in the list of the tallest hotels in the world. The hotel, designed by architect Tom Wright, is considered the only 7-star hotel in the world. Construction of the hotel began in 1994. According to the original design, the building was to resemble the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. The luxurious building was officially opened in December 1999.

Located in Los Angeles, California, the amazing building is the fourth venue of the Los Angeles Music Center. The concert hall was designed by Frank Gehry. The official opening took place in 2003. The project actually began in 1987, when Walt Disney's widow donated $50 million to build the concert hall. The final cost of the entire project is estimated at $274 million.

The pyramid can be seen in the main courtyard of the Louvre Palace in Paris. The large pyramid, made of glass, is surrounded by three smaller pyramids and serves as the main entrance to the Louvre. The architectural composition, designed by architect I. M. Pei, was built in 1989. It reaches 20.6 meters in height and consists entirely of glass segments.

The tower, 829.8 meters high, is currently the tallest structure created by man. Construction of the building began in 2004 and ended in 2009. The official opening took place in 2010. The tower was created by architects and designers from Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. The architects drew inspiration for the tower from Islamic culture, but they developed an innovative building system structure that is capable of supporting such a huge height.

"The Shard of Glass" or simply "The Shard" is a huge 87-story skyscraper in London, part of the London Bridge. Its construction began in 2009 and ended in 2012. Currently, it is the tallest building in the European Union (its height is 306 meters). The project of a skyscraper resembling a shard of glass belongs to the architect Renzo Piano.

The Jin Mao Tower is located in Shanghai and until 2007 was considered the tallest building in China. It was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in a post-modern style with traditional Chinese architectural details. The building's exterior is made of glass, steel and granite.

looks even more original and incredible. Architecture is a kind of creation and reflection public consciousness

and being, it is designed to satisfy the aesthetic needs of society. The evolution of architecture is inseparable from the evolution of humanity. Any achievements and problems of architecture cannot be separated from social achievements and difficulties.

For architecture, it is more important to fully satisfy the needs of society with an equal relationship with the natural environment, and not to develop any prevailing style. For example, the popular Baroque architectural style did not lead to the construction of ecological buildings that would be in balance with the natural environment and fully meet the needs of society. Late modernism was like that.

20th century in the formation of world architecture The 20th century was critical in the development of all mankind: it was then that society first realized the instability of its development and formation, which led to. For the first time, it was realized that more sustainable development was needed, which was based on sustainable construction and architecture.

Note 1

For the first time in human history, in the 20th century the built environment grew and became the main value of all states. It was during this period that the need for sustainable use of resources and the transition to the use of renewable resources was realized, which significantly influenced architecture.

Factors that influenced modern world architecture

During that period, other global problems, which significantly influenced architecture:

• rapid population growth;
• formation of cities and creation of urban areas;
• lack of vital resources;
• increasing social inequality;
• unsustainable development;
• rapid growth of undeveloped territories;
• reduction of natural landscapes.

Therefore, it is more logical to place the stages of architectural evolution with the stages of technical, socio-economic, environmental and technological development of society. When assessing the progress of architecture, the first place must be taken to include the needs of society in terms of the natural resource potential of the territory, as well as ecological relations with the natural environment.

Great architectural structures of the world

Planning trip around the world, you should definitely visit the cities with the most significant and beautiful architectural structures. These cities are popular because large quantity buildings, cityscapes and squares, while cultural heritage and unforgettable architecture make them best cities in the world.

These huge capitals with countless mysterious places have a lot to offer. However, we can single out ten of the world's greatest architectural structures.

1. The Shard tower located in London. Huge skyscraper The Shard radically changes the London skyline and makes it the most... high point in Europe. Its height exceeds 300 meters above ground level. The Shard is considered the tallest building in this part of the globe and is rightfully considered the most famous. In 2012, its construction was completed in the very center of London, near the London Bridge, the Thames embankment and the Tower of London. The Shard skyscraper can be seen from anywhere in the city, especially at night, when the luminous silhouette of this iconic architectural structure turns into a colorful mixture of shadows and light, and the lively reflection in the river conveys all its grandeur. Particularly popular is the observation deck, which is located at an altitude of 250 meters and offers the best view of London.

Figure 1. The Shard Tower, London. Author24 - online exchange of student work

1. Big Ben. Another famous London landmark is Big Ben (House of Lords, House of Commons), which has its roots in history. In the architecture of this building you can see numerous sharp details, tall pillars, sharp decorations, dark mystical angles and contrasting pale silhouettes. This large-scale architectural structure is one of the iconic landmarks of the city. The huge Big Ben tower with its clock and characteristic ringing can be recognized all over the world, making this building one of the most famous buildings in the world.

1. Burj Hadifa. Of course, the tallest building will not be an exception in the list of famous architectural structures. Burj Hadifa rises majestically above Dubai at an altitude of 830 meters. At night, the building creates a particularly colorful and fantastic atmosphere. Numerous lights come together to create a large-scale spectacle along with other architectural structures in Dubai. The tower dominates the skyline with its distinctive Arabian silhouette, Y-shaped design, cross sections and multiple levels. This building can safely be called a masterpiece of modern architecture. At the top of the skyscraper is the famous At.Mosphere restaurant.

1. Burj Al Arab. This amazing architectural structure is also located in Dubai along the coast. Dubai Sail is the most popular and luxurious hotel not only in Dubai, but throughout the planet. Its height is about 320 meters, thanks to which it ranks second in the ranking of the world's tallest hotels. Burj Al Arab is a symbol of the historical heritage of Dubai; it makes an unforgettable impression with its bright snow-white and original silhouette, as well as its gigantic scale and size. There is a small narrow bridge leading to the Burj Al Arab hotel, and at the top there is a landing pad for helicopters.

1. Taj Mahal. Another famous architectural structure is the Taj Mahal. It is located in India in eastern Agra. This architectural masterpiece is famous for its snow-white facades and unique history, making it one of the most attractive architectural gems. The history of the building begins in the 17th century. The Taj Mahal is a love story that permeates every corner of this mausoleum. This structure has a huge dome 170 meters high, four smaller domes and a giant courtyard, several leaning minarets. The Taj Mahal is known throughout the world for its unique Islamic design, marble details and many calligraphic decorations. Standing at the main entrance, you immediately feel its grandeur and impressive size.

1. Roman Coliseum. Every detail of the Roman Colosseum is imbued with historical heritage. Every wall, façade and stone has its own story. The scale of this arena is impressive to this day, and 2000 years ago it was a real engineering marvel. The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater in the world, the center of numerous gladiatorial battles, where all the Roman nobility gathered. Beneath it there is a network of tunnels and caves, and the outer part of the Colosseum with many arches, columns and floors is considered the main symbol of Rome and all of Italy.

1. Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is just a small part of the entire complex of the Pisa Cathedral, but it is considered its most famous architectural structure. The tower consists of many spiral balconies that are pale in color with many shades. It has a courtyard and is surrounded by numerous lawns. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is made in Romanesque architectural design, but that is not what it is famous for. It tilts 4 degrees, creating the illusion of falling. This is exactly what tourists use when taking pictures against the backdrop of the original architectural structure.

1. Sydney Opera House. The Sydney Opera House is the most famous architectural structure in Australia because it is a real piece of art and a true masterpiece of art. The Opera House is a cultural symbol of the country and Sydney's most popular attraction. Within the walls of the Sydney Opera House there are numerous events related to opera, art and music. The architectural vista is located near the water on one side and surrounded by modern skyscrapers on the other, making the Sydney Opera House one of the famous buildings in the world.

Figure 8. Sydney Opera House. Author24 - online exchange of student work

1. Empire State Building. The symbol of the US state and New York is the Empire State Building. This is one of those must-visit places in the city. The skyscraper will impress with its many colors, pure Art Deco forms, historical cultures and, of course, its enormous height. It is elevated almost 450 meters above the Manhattan skyline. The Empire State Building is dotted with numerous windows, and at the top there is an observation deck that offers a divine view of the entire Manhattan.

Figure 9. Empire State Building, New York. Author24 - online exchange of student work

1. Eiffel Tower. The list of the most popular and greatest architectural structures is headed not by a building, but by a tower. Eiffel Tower. It is undoubtedly the most popular architectural structure in the whole world. The tower is located in the center of Paris and is a symbol of France. It is the tallest structure on the entire continent and the most visited attraction in the entire world. The Eiffel Tower is famous for its unique history, numerous spans, connections, arches and complex elements that successfully highlight its charm.

Figure 10. Eiffel Tower, Paris. Author24 - online exchange of student work

Nowadays there are a huge number of great architectural structures that are not only impressive appearance, but also hereditary history, which is no less fascinating than their pompous architecture. These places of worship are located in different cities around the world and are an integral part of world history.

Judging by these photographs, give the architect free rein and he will be able to design a building of any shape and size. We have collected 33 extraordinary houses to show you and for each you can see the position on the world map so that you can visit them live 😉. Join us!

1 Surreal House/Mind House (Barcelona, ​​Spain) map

Mind House is a building located at the entrance to Park Güell, designed by the architect Antoni Gaudi, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

2 Crooked House/Krzywy Domek (Sopot, Poland) map

Located in the Polish city of Sopot, this building is a popular landmark for tourists and photographers. The inspiration for the unusual shape of the building came from the Polish fairytale illustrations Jan Marcin Szanser and Per Dahlberg.

3 Stone House/Casa do Penedo (Portugal) map

The house got its name because it was built on the basis of four large boulders, which serve as its foundation, walls and ceiling. Construction began in 1972 and lasted about two years until 1974.

4 Lotus Temple (New Delhi, India) map

Main temple Baha'i religion in India and neighboring countries, built in 1986. A huge building made of snow-white marble in the shape of a blooming lotus flower.

5 Cathedral/Catedral Metropolitana de Brasília (Brasilia, Brazil) map

Catholic cathedral Archdiocese of Brasilia. Built in the modernist style according to the design of the famous architect Oscar Niemeyer. When designing, Oscar Niemeyer was inspired by Liverpool Cathedral. The building itself consists of 16 hyperboloid columns, symbolizing hands raised to the sky.

6 Casa Mila/La Pedrera (Barcelona, ​​Spain) map

The residential building, built in 1906-1910 in Barcelona by the architect Antoni Gaudi for the Mila family, is one of the attractions of the Catalan capital. The design of this Gaudi building was innovative for its time: a well-thought-out natural ventilation system makes it possible to avoid air conditioning, interior partitions in each of the apartments of the house can be moved at your discretion, and there is an underground garage.

7 Atomium (Brussels, Belgium) map

One of the main attractions and symbol of Brussels. The Atomium was designed for the opening of the 1958 World's Fair by architect André Waterkein as a symbol of the atomic age and the peaceful uses of atomic energy.

8 Museum of Contemporary Art (Niteroi, Brazil) map

The famous architectural creation of Oscar Niemeyer in the modernist style. The building took five years to construct and was completed in 1996. A sixteen-meter-tall concrete smooth cylindrical structure on a thin leg with a glass belt simultaneously looks like both a UFO and an exotic plant growing on the edge of a cliff.

9 Kansas City Central Library (Missouri, USA) map

For a while the façade Central Library Kansas City was designed like a bookshelf made up of different books. It looked impressive)

10 “The Hobbit House” (Wales, UK) map

The house was built with maximum consideration for the environment and provided a unique opportunity to live closer to nature.

11 Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York, USA) map

The choice of site for the construction of the Guggenheim Museum was on a site adjacent to the huge green area of ​​Central Park between 88th and 89th streets on Fifth Avenue. When designing the building, architect Frank Lloyd Wright went from existing models and invited the audience to take the elevator to the top floor and go down in an internal continuous spiral, examining the exhibition along the way, both on the ramp itself and in the adjacent halls.

12 Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao, Spain) map

The museum building was designed by American-Canadian architect Frank Gehry and was opened to the public in 1997. The building is immediately recognized as one of the most spectacular deconstructivist buildings in the world. Architect Philip Johnson called it "the greatest building of our time"

Located on the embankment, the building embodies the abstract idea of ​​a futuristic ship, perhaps for interplanetary travel. He has also been compared to a bird, an airplane, Superman, an artichoke and a blooming rose.

13 Habitat 67/Habitat 67 (Montreal, Canada) map

Residential complex in Montreal, which 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 cube is the basis of this structure. 354 cubes built on top of each other made it possible to create this gray building with 146 apartments. Most apartments have a private rooftop garden for the neighbor below. The style of construction is brutalism.

14 House of Music/Casa da musica (Porto, Portugal) map

Designed by Rem Koolhaas, the concert hall in the historic center of Porto is home to the city's three orchestras. The construction of a building of an unusual shape required the implementation of new engineering solutions. It was carried out in 2001-2005. in connection with Porto's functions as the European Capital of Culture. The project proposed by Koolhaas received wide recognition in the architectural community. Thus, the architectural critic of The New York Times Nikolai Urusov called the House of Music “the most attractive” project of Koolhaas, comparing it with the Berlin Philharmonic and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

15 Olympic Stadium (Montreal, Canada) map

It was built as the main sports arena for the 1976 Summer Olympics. It hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games. Canada's largest stadium by capacity.

16 Nautilus House (Mexico City, Mexico) map

The design of the house is very innovative, unusual and daring. Architect Javier Senosiein decided to bring marine forms into architecture and created a house in the shape of a shell.

17 National Library of Belarus/National Library of Belarus (Minsk, Belarus) map

The building is a rhombicuboctahedron, 73.6 m high (23 floors) and weighing 115,000 tons (not including books). Unusual is the lighting of the building, which is a giant multi-color screen based on LED clusters, which turns on every day at sunset and runs until midnight. The design and patterns on it are constantly changing.

18 National Center for the Performing Arts/国家大剧院 (Beijing, China) map

It is an ellipsoidal dome made of glass and titanium, rising in the middle of an artificial reservoir, across the road from Lake Zhongnanhai. The three main halls of the theater can accommodate at least 6,500 spectators.

The architect was the Frenchman Paul Andreux; construction lasted from December 2001 to December 2007. The construction of such a huge futuristic building in the historical center of the Chinese capital caused great controversy, both from the point of view of its incompatibility with the urban environment, and because of the exorbitant and constantly increasing costs during construction.

19 Conch Shell House (Isla Mujeres, Mexico) map

The house was designed by Octavio Ocampo, one of Mexico's most famous artists, and his brother. The house is a perfect manifestation of his surreal blend of summer house and unique underwater aesthetic.

20 House Attack (Vienna, Austria) map

Erwin Wurm is known for his unusual, sometimes humorous, and sometimes mysterious works. He created such an intriguing installation that surprised passersby.

21 Library Alexandrina/ مكتبة الإسكندرية الجديدة ‎ (Alexandria, Egypt) map

The idea of ​​building a library on the site of an ancient one Library of Alexandria originated in the early 1970s and was owned by a group of professors at Alexandria University. The complex has a very expressive architecture. The concept of the library building is based on the symbolism of the south. The building is like a solar disk, raised to the south and inclined to the north. The glass surfaces of the north-sloping roof allow northern light to flow down into the library.

22 Cube Houses/Kubuswoning (Rotterdam, Netherlands) map

A series of houses built in Rotterdam and Helmond to an innovative design by architect Piet Blom in 1984. Blom's radical solution was that he installed the parallelepiped of the house not on the edge, as usual, but on the top, and with this top it rests (visually) on the hexagonal pylon. In Rotterdam there are 38 such houses and 2 more super-cubes, and all the houses are articulated into a single structure. From a bird's eye view, the complex has an intricate appearance, reminiscent of an impossible triangle.

23 The ideal palace of the postman Cheval/Le Palais idéal (France) map

The creator of this most impressive monument of naive architecture is Joseph Ferdinand Cheval. From the age of 13 he worked as a baker's assistant, and in 1867 he received the position of rural postman. Delivering mail, he traveled 25 km every day, putting stones of unusual natural shapes into a wheelbarrow. Of these, for 33 years, alone, in his free time, day and night, in any weather, with the help of the most simple tools, he realized his dream - a palace beyond all imagination.

24 Hallgrímskirkja Church (Reykjavik, Iceland) map

The church was designed in 1937 by the architect Goodjoun Samuelson. It took 38 years to build the church. The church is located in the center of Reykjavik, and is visible from any part of the city. It has become one of the main attractions of the city.

25 Eden project (Cornwall, UK) map

Botanical garden in Cornwall, UK. Includes a greenhouse consisting of several geodesic domes, under which plants from all over the world are collected. The area of ​​the greenhouses is 22,000 square meters. m. The domes are made of hundreds of hexagons and several pentagons connecting the entire structure. Each of the hexagons and pentagons is made of durable, translucent plastic. The first greenhouse features tropical vegetation, the second - Mediterranean vegetation.

26 The Museum of Play (Rochester, USA) map

Interesting architectural design of the National Museum of Play in Rochester. The museum provides a huge interactive collection of exhibits dedicated to the history and exploration of gaming. A resort complex on the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The complex consists of two buildings and a bridge connecting them, which housed 1,539 rooms. Initially, the dome cells had acrylic inserts, but after the fire of 1976, only the metal frame remained. Now the Biosphere has become a recognizable symbol of the city. The house is in the neoclassical style, standing upside down. At WonderWorks you can have great food, laugh a lot, lie on a yoga bed, ride a virtual roller coaster, control a ball with your mind, find yourself in the desert or inside a soap bubble, and much more. In total, WonderWorks has about one hundred and fifty interactive activities. Longaberger's main office was built in the shape of one of the company's products - a wicker basket. The building has seven floors, huge handles weigh almost 150 tons. Museum, gallery contemporary art, opened as part of the European Capital of Culture program in 2003. The building concept was developed by London architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier. The unofficial name is Friendly Alien. The building was built in a blob style, sharply contrasting with the surrounding buildings. The base of the building is made of reinforced concrete, the outer shell is made of bluish plastic panels. The Kunsthaus looks decent despite the very low budget for such cultural buildings in major cities. Interior decoration, according to Colin Fournier, should resemble a magician's black box. The facade is implemented as a programmable media installation. A residential complex in Darmstadt in the shape of a spiral, designed by the Austrian architect and artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and characterized by the complete absence of rectangular shapes. Other names are “Wooden Skyscraper”, “Solombala Skyscraper”. A wooden 13-story house built in Solombala (north of Arkhangelsk) by businessman Nikolai Sutyagin. The house was partially dismantled in December 2008 by court decision as an unauthorized construction. On May 5, 2012, the remaining part of the wooden skyscraper was destroyed by fire. It was one of the tallest private wooden buildings in Russia, although inferior in height to some tiered wooden churches.

Old or new, with complex or simple structures, these are undoubtedly the most beautiful buildings in the world. Take a ride with us and check out these amazing architectural creations built in various cities around the globe.

1. Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Burj Al Arab is recognized as the tallest and most luxurious hotel in the world. Built on its own artificial island in front of Jumeirah Beach, this seven-star, sixty-story hotel is of fabulous beauty. The building resembles a colorfully lit sailboat that rises 321 meters above sea level.

As for the interior, what can we say? This is a world within a world. Amazing design, dancing fountains, huge aquariums, luxurious suites with really gilded details. It is so tall that it can accommodate the Dubai World Trade Centre.

2. Catherine Palace, St. Petersburg

A beautiful Baroque palace of Catherine the Great, with a distinctive blue façade, rebuilt by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna to its current form. Most visitors come to the town of Pushkin near St. Petersburg, home to an impressive palace, to see the famous Amber Room, billed as the eighth wonder of the world. But for many, the most delightful view is the elegant wing in the classical style, designed by Catherine II's favorite architect, Charles Cameron.

3. 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. With 24,000 m2, of which 11,000 is dedicated to exhibition space, the museum is an architectural landmark of daring configuration and innovative design, providing a seductive backdrop for the works of art displayed within it. 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. The museum is made of titanium, with wavy lines that change color in the rays of the sun.

4. Great Mosque, Djenne, Mali

In one of the oldest cities in Africa, in the sub-Saharan city of Djenne, you will find this majestic beautiful building- a mosque built from clay bricks by the Dogon people, African tribe, which uses mud like the ancient Romans used marble. In this region, in the center of a once thriving commercial city, mosques were built in the 13th century AD. The Great Mosque, or Great Mosque of Djenne, dates back to 1906 and is the largest building in the world built entirely from mud. Since 1988, the mosque has been included in the list of the World cultural heritage UNESCO. Its towers are decorated with an ostrich egg, which symbolizes fertility and good luck.

5. Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

The first attraction you need is the Sagrada Familia or the Church of the Sagrada Familia, which was designed by Antoni Gaudi and has become the symbol of the city. The Catalan architect devoted more than 40 years of his life to this colossal and unfinished Gothic cathedral, with its huge spiers that seem to touch the clouds and facades that resemble sand sculptures. Gaudí personally supervised the work until he died in 1926. His partners continued construction, and although the original plans were destroyed during the Spanish Civil War, work continues to this day. In accordance with the projects, completion of the temple is expected in 2026.

6. Taj Mahal, India

The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan began to build this building in 1632 to bury the remains of his beloved wife. The Taj Mahal stands in Agra, on the southern bank of the Yamuna River. This famous mausoleum complex, built over more than 20 years, is one of the most outstanding examples of Mughal architecture, with Indian, Persian and Islamic influences. Constructed of shimmering white marble that changes color depending on the sunlight or moonlight on its surface. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, the Taj Mahal remains one of the world's most iconic structures and a stunning symbol of India's rich history. Visit this place and see that it is truly one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

Wat Rong Khun, better known as the "White Temple", is 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, making it one of the most visited attractions in Chiang Rai.

Wat Rong Khun is a unique temple that stands out due to its white color and sparkles in the sun thanks to the use 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 - Buddhist teachings.

The temple building was designed by the famous Thai visual artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. To date it has not been completed. One day there would be nine buildings, including a hall containing Buddhist relics, a meditation hall, monks' living quarters and an art gallery.

8. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located in Abu Dhabi and is the largest marble mosque in the world, with a capacity of 40,000 people. The construction of this building was completed in 2007 after collecting white marble from 28 countries. The main hall has a unique giant lamp decorated with Swarovski crystals, weighing 9 tons, with a diameter and height of 10 and 15 meters respectively.

The next very beautiful building is located in St. Petersburg. This is an impressive church whose construction began in 1883, just above the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated two years earlier. The temple impresses with its multi-colored towers, rich exterior decoration and a particularly impressive interior with mosaics.

Modern architecture amazes our imagination. Looking at some buildings and structures that can hardly be called buildings, you just wonder how people can live and work in them? But most of them are residential buildings or shopping and office centers, and some are exhibition complexes and concert halls. They were designed by designers and architects with truly wild imagination, and then it’s worth looking at them and learning more about them. We offer you the ten most unusual architectural structures on our planet.

1. Ark Nova, Japan

The name of this building translates as “New Ark”; it is nothing more than a concert hall. However, this is not just a hall, but the world's first inflatable and mobile performance hall. It was designed in the form of a huge purple-pink drop, which in its design resembles an air cushion. The authors of the project are British sculptor Anish Kapoor and Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. The first performance at Ark Nova took place in October last year, and it was built on the east coast of Japan - specifically to support the spirit of people affected by the tsunami. Even visual seats and the benches here are made from pieces of trees damaged during a natural disaster. This should become a symbol of the fact that after any trouble you need to be reborn and move on. According to the architects, the Ark Nova hall will become the largest inflatable concert hall in the world. The height of Ark Nova is 18 meters, width is 35 meters, it can accommodate about 500 spectators. The main advantage of the unusual hall is its ease of transportation - just deflate the air and transport the hall to another place.

2. Sundome, Michigan, USA

An unusual structure resembling a honeycomb at a Michigan exhibition pavilion consists of many circles. They, in turn, are made of a special material - archila - very light and bendable, which contains fiberglass and carbon. The so-called “Sun Dome” illuminates the entire pavilion with its ghostly multi-colored light, which comes from elements at the base of the structure. These elements store solar energy throughout the day and then project light onto the dome. The installation was created by the art studio “Loop.pH” and, according to the studio’s creative director, it represents a fundamental new way construction based on textile weaving techniques. The size of the “Solar Dome” is 8 by 4 meters and its weight is about 40 kilograms. This portable structure looks surprisingly harmonious in any environment.

3. House of Mirrors, Flint, USA

Would you like to live in a house of mirrors, and one that floats above the ground? Hardly. That is why no one lives here, and the house of mirrors in the city of Flint is a kind of monument to home comfort. It was built by London architects from the Two Islands firm, who dedicated their creation to the thousands of demolished houses in the city of Flint, residents who were forced to leave this city. It was in Flint that the once legendary automobile company General Motors was born; later it began to move production to other regions and countries, and the city began to slowly fade without it. English name the construction of “Mark's House” (“Mark’s House”) arose from the story of an imaginary resident of Flint, Mark Hamilton, whose family lost their home during the period mentioned economic crisis. The shiny house, perched on a pedestal, weighs almost two tons. On its floor there are 882 lightboxes, which present hundreds of photographs of faces, in particular, portraits of those who supported the initiative to create the “House of Mirrors” financially - and, unfortunately, no more than 90 of these people gathered around the world.

4. Lotus Dome, Jerusalem, Israel

There are many mysterious places in Jerusalem. One of them is Zedekiah's Cave - the largest and most mysterious cave in the northern part of the Old City wall. It is named after the last king of Judah, Zedekiah, and during the time of King Solomon, limestone was mined here. In the very center of the cave there is a very unusual dome lamp “Lotus Dome”, made of several hundred aluminum flowers that open their petals, turning towards people. The huge flower remains motionless until the first visitors appear in the hall. As soon as people enter the room, the petals begin to bloom one after another, illuminating the entire surrounding space with light streaming from the center of the dome. The closer visitors get to the installation, the more noticeable the movements of the metal petals become - and now the entire “organism” of this huge silver ball becomes mobile. The author of the project is Dutch designer Dan Rosegaarde, his installation attracts tourists to the cave.

5. Smart eco-house, Sweden

But you definitely wouldn’t refuse to live in such a house, although the area it occupies is only 10 square meters! The author of this project was the Swedish architectural company Tengboom Architects. According to the developers, this house will be an excellent alternative to student dormitories, and also very environmentally friendly. The house is designed for one person; the developers managed to place in it a kitchen, a bathroom, a place to study and sleep, i.e., everything necessary for a student’s full-fledged life. A light color scheme with bright spots of color helps create a comfortable living atmosphere. The successful layout, the presence of two levels, and the use of natural laminated wood made it possible to reduce not only the rent, but also the harmful impact on the environment.

6. Bamboo House, Vietnam

Vietnam has very treacherous natural conditions. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that it was here that the creation of the world’s strongest bamboo house, which can withstand a flood with a water level of 1.5 meters, was conceived and brought to life. The authors of the project, the Vietnamese architectural studio H&P Architects, do not intend to stop there and are checking whether the house can withstand a water height of three meters. The building is multifunctional and can be not only a residential building, but also a public one - a school, a hospital, etc. The building materials used for the house are bamboo, fiberboard, and coconut leaves. The roof can be opened and closed, depending on weather conditions. Downstairs there is a bedroom and living room, and upstairs you can arrange an office. The building is modular, costs about $2,500, and the buyer can assemble it themselves in just 25 days.

7. House with a Slipping Facade, Margate, UK

Walking through the British city of Margate, you may be incredibly surprised to come across a three-story house with... a facade that has slid down. The first floor with the front door seems to lie directly on the ground, and the upper floor is open. Don’t be surprised, the reason for this façade “slipping” out of its place is not a natural disaster or construction flaws, but just the wild imagination of designer Alex Chinnack. By the way, it took him almost a year to create the installation. The house was already abandoned for a long time. The building was once purchased by the municipality and was intended to be converted into social housing. But time passed, and the building became more and more unusable and collapsed. The designer removed the facade from the old three-story building and replaced it with a new wall. The new facade reveals the crumbling upper floor of the house, wraps around the ground and sits comfortably on the ground in front of the building.

8. House-banknote, Kaunas, Lithuania

A very unusual and very realistic structure in the form of a folded banknote issued by Lithuania during the years of independence, in fact it is a large business center called “Office Center 1000”. It is quite natural that it housed the two largest Lithuanian banks. The project was completely developed and implemented by RA Studija and the young Lithuanian architect Rimas Adomaitis. One day, a famous specialist says that this building should never symbolize the power of money over people and universal admiration for it, which is why not a modern, but a historical banknote was taken. The facade is decorated with glass tiles of various shapes and sizes, made in Holland. The house has no windows in the usual sense of the word, because the entire facade of the building is glass. On the outside, the glass has a special coating that protects the design from adverse weather conditions. It was assembled by hand by a large number of builders; it was a large and painstaking job.

9. Atomium, Brussels, Belgium

Not only the most modern sculptures, buildings and structures can capture our imagination. What can you say about the sculpture, built back in 1958? This is one of the main attractions of Brussels and a real symbol of the city called Atomium. It was designed for the opening of the 1958 World's Fair by architect André Waterkein as a symbol of the atomic age and the peaceful use of atomic energy, and was built under the direction of architects André and Michel Polack. The majestic sculpture is a huge model of an iron crystal. Initially, the structure was covered with aluminum, and after overhaul in 2006 - a strong and durable steel shell that sparkles in the sun. The Atomium is 102 meters high, weighs about 2,400 tons, and the diameter of each of the nine spheres is 18 meters. The spheres are connected by 23 m long pipes containing escalators and corridors. There are a total of 20 connecting pipes between the balls. In the middle of them there is an elevator capable of lifting visitors to the restaurant and observation platform, located in the highest ball of the Atomium, in 25 seconds.

10. Art Museum building, Graz, Austria

At first glance at this unusual building, it is difficult to believe that it houses an art museum. However, this is so, and local residents affectionately and humorously call the Kunsthaus “the pregnant cow.” The gallery of contemporary art was opened as part of the European Capital of Culture program in 2003, the title of which was awarded to Graz. The building concept was developed by London architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier. Architectural style The building defies any classification and contrasts sharply with the surrounding buildings. But what is unique about the building is that it can “communicate” with the outside world. The façade of the museum is designed as a media installation with an area of ​​900 square meters, consisting of luminous elements that can be programmed using a computer. Despite its relatively short existence, the museum building has won a lot of sympathy from local residents and tourists and is recognized as a symbol of the city and its modern life.