The most famous buildings in the world. The most unusual architectural buildings in the world

The world is filled with strange buildings resulting from the attempts of unconventional architects to express themselves with brick and mortar. Skyscrapers rushing to the clouds and giant metal structures are common sights in almost all corners of the world. We offer an overview of the most amazing and strange buildings in the world.

National Center for the Performing Arts ( National Theater opera) is located in Beijing. Constructed of glass and titanium, the building is surrounded by an artificial lake. It was designed by French architect Paul Andreu. Construction began in 2001 and took six years to complete. The first production was the Russian historical opera "Prince Igor" by A.P. Borodin performed by the orchestra, choir and soloists of the Mariinsky Theater under the direction of Valery Gergiev. The architectural complex includes a building, underground and underwater corridors, an underground parking lot, an artificial lake and green spaces. For the construction of the main dome, 18,000 titanium plates and over 1,200 sheets of glass were needed, its length is 212 meters, and its width is 144 meters, and its height is 46 meters. The underground part of the building goes to a depth of about 32.5 meters. The total area of ​​the complex is 118,900 square meters. Three halls of the theater with an area of ​​12,000 square meters are designed for 5452 spectators.

In Rotterdam and Helmond Cubic houses you can find unusual, if not strange, cubic houses. Created by Piet Blom Piet Blom, based on the desire to create a forest in the middle of the city, houses would grow as trees. In 1984, a complex of 38 buildings appeared on Overblaak Street, striking in their appearance.

Each house has four floors. On the first floors of the houses there are mainly offices, hairdressers, shops, etc. The area of ​​three-story apartments is about 100 square meters, but the living area is much less, because the walls and floor are inclined at an angle of 54.7 degrees. The layout of the apartment is as follows: the first floor - a kitchen and a living room, the second floor - two bedrooms and a bathroom, the third floor will be equipped with guest rooms, offices, winter gardens.

The Biosphere is a museum dedicated to environmental issues. It is located in Jean-Drapeau Park on Saint Helena right in the middle of the Saint Lawrence River. It was once the US pavilion at the International Expo 67. The design, resembling a huge soap bubble, was so striking and original that they decided to keep it. The outer "shell" of the Biosphere is a dome 62 meters high and 76 meters in diameter. The author of the project, which brought worldwide fame to its creator, is Richard Buckminster Fuller.

Lesnaya Spiral is a twelve-story residential complex built in the 1990s. The author of the idea is the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and the architect Heinz M. Springmann brought it to life together with the Bauverein Darmstadt company. The construction of the building lasted from 1998 to 2000. The complex "Forest Spiral" with multi-colored camps, a curved facade, resembles a huge snail. 1048 windows of non-repetitive sizes and shapes help to create the image of a fabulous house. Trees grow from some of the windows, and tenants are required by the lease to take care of them. The house has 105 apartments, there is a cozy courtyard with playgrounds, artificial lakes, curly paths and bridges, shops, parking and a pharmacy.

Habitat 67 is a residential complex designed by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie. This was his graduation project. It is located near the St. Lawrence River on Pierre-Dupuy Avenue. The house is recognized as a landmark of the city, and the country as a whole.
The building resembles a construction of children's cubes, however, it is absolutely reliable and convenient for living. For a house of 146 apartments, 354 cubes were needed, built on top of each other. Each apartment has several such cubes, up to five pieces. From the windows of all apartments there is a view of three cardinal directions, you can admire the Montreal harbor. Moreover, the house has many open terraces, glazed passages.

Also known as Casa Mila, the building is located in the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona. It was built by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi in 1906-1912 for a married couple. The house is amazing and notable for the fact that there is not a single straight line in it. It was an ambiguous design for the time, the bold forms of the undulating stone façade and the wrought iron balconies and window decorations created chiefly by José María Jujol, who also designed some of the plaster ceilings. The house is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visitors can climb to the top floor, attic and rooftop and take a closer look at this masterpiece.

The Museum of Modern Art is located in the Brazilian city of Niteroi and is one of the main local attractions. The building looks like an unidentified space object that has arrived from unknown worlds. It was built in 1996 according to the design of Oscar Niemeiru and Bruno Contarini. The height of the building is 16 meters, the diameter of the dome is 50 meters, and the supports are 9 meters. Area 817 square meters.

Stone house, Fafi (Portugal)

A stone house in the north of Portugal in the Fafi mountains resembles the home of the Flintstones from an American cartoon. The house was based on two huge boulders, which were connected to each other using concrete mortar. As a result, in 1974, a two-story prehistoric-style house with a fireplace and a swimming pool appeared, attracting thousands of tourists.

The shopping center in Sopot attracts not only buyers, but also thousands of tourists. And all thanks to the unusual appearance- no straight lines or angles. The Crooked House was built in 2004 by architects Szotyńscy & Zaleski, inspired by the fabulous drawings and illustrations by Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg. The area is approximately 4000 square meters. There are small shops, cafes and restaurants here. The shopping center occupies the first floor, and the offices of two radio companies are located on the second.
Modern architects are building original houses not only on land, they have begun to conquer bodies of water of all sizes, offering projects

Built at the end of the 15th century by the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti. For three centuries it was the main temple of the Muscovite state. The oldest fully preserved building in Moscow. Fragments of the original frescoes made by the icon painter Dionysius remained on the walls. In 1547, Ivan the Terrible was crowned here for the first time. Later, all Russian emperors were crowned in this temple, starting with Peter II. In 1918, the cathedral was closed, in 1955 it was opened as a museum, and in 1990 services were resumed on solemn days.

Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye

The first hipped temple in Russia, built in 1528-1532. The architect of the church was supposedly the Italian Peter Francis Gannibal, but in the Russian chronicles Peter Fryazin or Petroko Maly is listed. According to legend, the construction of the temple is associated with the birth of Ivan IV, the long-awaited heir to the Grand Duke.

The interior of the temple has not been preserved. In the 16th century, the church was renovated, after which the floor of white and gray ceramic tiles was damaged and laid upside down. At the same time, the royal gates that have survived to this day appeared near the temple. The last restoration was carried out in 2002-2005, as a result of which they were completely destroyed wooden structures roofs over porches.

Yaroslavsky railway station

In 1862, a small station of the Yaroslavl railway was built between the Red Pond and the Nikolaevsky railway station. In 1900, the Ministry of Railways entrusted the architect Lev Kekushev with a radical restructuring of the passenger hall, and then Fyodor Shekhtel was invited to correct his project. A high, like in ancient Russian towers, a roof with a crest crowning it, a wide frieze belt made of shimmering green-brown glazed tiles, majolica inserts with plots based on the "northern" drawings of Shekhtel, a side left tower directed upwards, a giant entrance arch of the vestibule with semicircular pylons - turrets on the sides and a keel-visor. In a deep niche of the pediment under this visor, there were relief symbols of the three great cities that were connected by the Yaroslavl (Northern) railway: the coat of arms of Moscow - George the Victorious, the coat of arms of Yaroslavl - a bear with an ax, the coat of arms of Arkhangelsk - the Archangel Michael defeating the devil.

Metropol Hotel

In the place where the Metropol is now located, since the 1830s there has been a three-story hotel with baths of the merchant Chelyshev (Muscovites called it Chelyshi), designed by Osip Bove. In the 1890s, Savva Mamontov bought the hotel and adjacent plots of land to implement his innovative idea: he planned to organize a grandiose cultural and leisure center in Moscow. The project did not provide for the demolition of the old hotel, but its radical restructuring. A galaxy of well-known and talented architects and artists worked on the creation of the hotel complex. Paintings and elements of interior decor were made according to sketches by V. Vasnetsov and K. Korovin. Unlike facades, designed in strict stylistic unity, interior decoration polystylism is characteristic: there are interiors in the pseudo-Russian style, and in the spirit of neoclassicism.

Profitable house Tarkhova

The profitable house at the corner of Podsosensky and Kazarmennoye lanes was built according to the project of the architect G. I. Makaev in 1903-1904. (The second known building in Moscow by the same architect is the north wing Polytechnic Museum.) The house is an expressive example of the northern modern style and is known as the "house with poppies." Poppies are one of the favorite motifs of Art Nouveau, a symbolic expression of the fact that life is a dream.

IN Soviet time the apartments were turned into communal apartments, which were resettled in the 1990s. Despite the fact that the building is considered an object of cultural heritage of regional importance, its facades are in disrepair.

Pepper House

Pertsova's house in Moscow was built by the architects N. K. Zhukov and B. N. Schnaubert in 1905-1907 according to the sketches of the artist S. V. Malyutin, the author of the Russian nesting dolls. As planned, Pertsova's Moscow tenement house, also known as the Fairy Tale House, was supposed to be a work of art in itself. The building has an unusual and complex shape, the facade is decorated with rich decor, asymmetrical windows, balconies and tower-like ledges. Old Russian motifs and patterns were used to decorate the house.

Kremlin wall

The most concise and recognizable of the architectural symbols of Moscow is to reproduce the silhouette of the upper part of the wall with dovetail-type battlements in combination with the uncompromisingly red color of burnt brick, even a child can do. The wall is one of the oldest buildings in the city. The Milanese architects, who supervised its construction at the end of the 15th century, took as a basis the battlements of the castles of the Italian Ghibellines, opponents of papal authority. Simple rectangular battlements distinguished the style of the fortresses of the papist-Guelphs, and therefore they were in no way suitable for the citadel of the Orthodox faith.

Insurance company "Russia"

Two buildings of this elegant residential building on Sretensky Boulevard were built in 1899-1902 by architects N. M. Proskurin and A. I. von Gauguin. The house was originally built for a very wealthy audience. A ventilation system was installed that not only supplied fresh air to the premises, but also filtered and moistened it. To ensure uninterrupted power supply, a private power plant was installed in the basement, and eight boilers provided heating. An artesian well 50 meters deep was also drilled for water supply at the house. As befits, the posh house had both electric elevators and a laundry room for residents. Many of the upper apartments had glass ceilings, which was especially appreciated by the artists.

South entrance of the Krasnye Vorota metro station

An early or first exit from the Krasnye Vorota metro station was opened along with the station on May 15, 1935, as part of the first launch section of the Sokolniki Moscow Metro - Park Kultury. The above-ground vestibule is located along the axis of the Red Gate, dismantled in 1928, and is made in the form of four hemispheres nested into each other according to the project of the architect N.A. Ladovsky. Many Muscovites call this exit "shell". In 1938, the exit project and the station itself were awarded the Grand Prix of the International World's Fair in Paris. In 1952, the first turnstile in the history of the metro was installed in the lobby. In 1986, Lermontovskaya became the first Moscow metro station to get its historical name back.

The building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

One of the seven "Stalin skyscrapers". The building was built in the period from 1948 to 1953 according to the project of architects V. G. Gelfreikh and M. A. Minkus and designers S. D. Gomberg and G. M. Limanovsky. The height is 172 meters. Initially, the building was erected without a spire, but on the orders of Stalin in 1952, the final cascade in the form of a decorative spire was completed in two weeks (the visual discrepancy between the elements of the facade and the spire is clearly visible from Smolenskaya Square). The building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has become a model for all other Moscow skyscrapers.

"White City" on Belorusskaya

The first phase of the business center was built in 2006-2009. According to the plan, the white-stone church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was to become the fundamental element of the complex, in which large-scale restoration work was carried out with the assistance of construction investors. The complex consists of two 15-storey and one 6-storey building. Two more towers are planned to be completed in 2013. In the center of the "White Square" there is a light and music fountain. It is planned that soon live concerts and open-air exhibitions will be held here.

North River Station

The building of the river station was built simultaneously with the Moscow canal even before the Khimki reservoir (on the bank of which it is located) was filled in 1937 according to a joint project of architects A. M. Rukhlyadev, V. F. Krinsky, sculptors I. S. Efimov and artist N I. Danko. The station was conceived as a symbol of Moscow - the "port of five seas". The building is made in the form of a large ship. The spire is crowned with a star, which was on the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin in 1935-1937. The hammer and sickle are inlaid Ural gems. From the Northern River Station you can go on a cruise on routes to St. Petersburg, Astrakhan, Rostov-on-Don. Pleasure boats depart from the pier to the Bay of Joy and Troitsky.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The largest Catholic cathedral in Russia, the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God, headed by Archbishop Metropolitan Paolo Pezzi. One of the two active Catholic churches in Moscow, along with the Church of St. Louis of France (1830, architect Gilardi). The temple was built in 1901-1911 (finishing was completed later). The author of the project is F. O. Bogdanovich-Dvorzhetsky. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a neo-Gothic three-nave cruciform pseudo-basilica. It is believed that for the architect the prototype of the facade was the Gothic cathedral in Westminster Abbey, and the dome was the prototype of the dome. cathedral in Milan. Since 2009, the educational course "Western European Sacred Music", dedicated to Gregorian chant and organ improvisation, has been held within the walls of the cathedral.

House of Culture named after Zuev

One of the brightest examples of constructivism. Named in honor of a participant in the uprising of 1905, a locksmith of the tram depot S. M. Zuev. Built in 1927-1929 on Lesnaya Street, designed by architect Ilya Golosov. The project was born under the influence of cubism and is built on a combination of asymmetrically arranged regular geometric bodies. The compositional center of the building is a vertical glass cylinder, on which, as it were, the entire building with unusually large window surfaces is “put on”.

Residential complex Copper House

Erected in 2003-2004. The complex was designed by architects S. Skuratov, V. Ryzhkov, N. Ishutina, Yu. Kovaleva, A. Medvedev, P. Karpovsky, P. Shalimov, N. Demidov and V. Danilov. As conceived by the authors, the composition of the building expressed the specifics of the area. The narrow, long building plot is played up as a metaphor for the transition: by connecting Zachatievsky Lane with Prechistenskaya Embankment, the house "builds bridges" to the shores of new domestic architecture. The architect Skuratov called the house "the Mannerheim line", which distinguished between intelligent architecture and products of domestic building practice. The Copper House residential building was accepted into the collection of the best buildings of 2003-2004 in the Museum of Architecture. Shchusev.

Profitable house of Isakov on Prechistenka

The house, built in 1904-1906 according to the project of the architect L. Kekushev, is one of the most striking examples of Art Nouveau in Moscow. During the construction of the house, Kekushev strove for maximum asymmetry and used all the possibilities of the site for this. As a result, the part of the building that overlooks the courtyard has six floors, and from the side of the street - five. The main staircase divides the building into front and back parts, which are offset from each other by half a floor in height. Thanks to this layout, each landing could be used to enter the apartment.

Shukhov Tower

The Moscow radio tower on Shabolovka was built in 1920-1922 by engineer V. G. Shukhov. The height of the tower is 148.3 meters, which is two times lower than the original project. However, at that time the tower was the tallest in Russia. The Shabolovskaya tower was built on the principle of mesh hyperboloid towers, which is a direct invention of Shukhov. Seventeen years after the opening of the tower, on March 10, 1939, a television program was broadcast from it for the first time - a documentary film about the opening of the XVIII Congress of the CPSU (b). The image of the Shukhov tower was used as an emblem Soviet television, in particular, the Blue Light program. In 1941, a mail plane crashed into the tower as a result of a malfunction, but due to its solid construction, the tower was not damaged. The tower has never been restored and is currently in need of expertise.

The history of the building begins in 1857. TSUM is made in gothic style with modern elements. In the 1880s, the building was bought by Scottish merchants Andrew Muir and Archibald Merilize, the founders of the Muir and Merilize trading company. In 1908, a new building was built according to the project of the architect Roman Klein, the author of the project of the Museum of Fine Arts. A. S. Pushkin. For the first time in Russia, reinforced concrete was used during construction. The new method made it possible to dispense with the traditional wide columns and use iron and steel structures to significantly increase the window space. Last time The building was renovated in 2007.

Pashkov House

One of the main monuments of classicism in Moscow. Built in 1784-1786. It bears the name of the customer - Lieutenant of the Life Guards Semenovsky Regiment Pyotr Yegorovich Pashkov. The architect is presumably Vasily Bazhenov. A distinctive feature of the mansion is two main facades: one facing the roadway has a more solemn look, the second is a manor, more modest look, located in the courtyard. The original color of the building was orange, but under Emperor Paul the color was changed. Under him, the statue of Minerva was removed from the dome. In 1914, the architect Shevyakov built a double-height hall. In 1986, during the construction of the Borovitskaya metro station, Pashkov's house was damaged and was on the verge of destruction. Until 2007, it was under reconstruction. Today the building belongs to the Russian State Library.

Publishing house of I. D. Sytin " Russian word»

The building was rebuilt in 1904-1906 from a mansion early XIX V. for Ivan Sytin, a Russian publisher and educator who produced mass editions of cheap editions of Russian and foreign classics. During the restructuring, the architect A. E. Erichson used the achievements of the construction technology of that time: reinforced concrete ceilings based on metal beams and load-bearing structures. The architect abandoned the corridors required for "office" places - instead of them, he designed spacious halls that unite large and bright rooms. External design complement the tiled frieze between the second and third floors, stucco female masks, patterned balconies grilles, made according to the sketches of the artist I. Bilibin. In 1979, during the reconstruction of Gorky Street, the house was moved 33.5 meters from the corner of Pushkin Square to Nastasinsky Lane and placed on a new foundation.

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

The Colosseum is also called the Flavian Amphitheater, and it is located in Rome (Italy). This large elliptical 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 gladiatorial fights, battles and executions, and accommodated up to 80,000 spectators.

Cathedral of the Intercession Holy Mother of God, which is on the Moat, also called St. Basil's Cathedral - a famous Orthodox cathedral, which is located in the very center of Moscow. The shape of the building resembles a fire flame 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 masterpiece of architecture is also known as the Blue Mosque. The iconic building is the historical value of Istanbul. The mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Ahmed I. Here is the tomb of the founder. 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 interior walls of the building.

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

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

The tower is known around the world as Big Ben, although the real name of the building is the Elizabeth Tower, in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. Big Ben is the nickname given to the big bell that is 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 to replace the old Palace of Westminster, which had been destroyed in a fire in 1834.

The tower is known for its drawback - tilting to one side. It all started during construction, when a wobbly foundation couldn't 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.

Sagrada Familia (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 started his project in 1882-1883 and the temple is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It got its name from the architect Gustav Eiffel. The tower was built in 1889 and to this day is considered the tallest building in Paris. The tower is 324 meters high and consists of three floors for visitors. The iron structure weighs approximately 7,300 tons. The entire tower as a whole 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 architect Antoni Gaudi. The construction of the house lasted from 1906 to 1912. The design of the house is considered the most original and bold because of the wavy stone facades, decorated with wrought iron. The building is in two parts built around two courtyards and has a roof topped with skylights, fans 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 an Art Deco style and was used as the headquarters of the Chrysler Corporation from the 1930s until 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, designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, is located in Sydney Harbour. It is one of the most iconic buildings of the 20th century and also 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 the 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.

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

The luxury hotel is located in Dubai. Its height is 321 meters, and it takes the 4th place in the list of the highest hotels in the world. The hotel, designed by architect Tom Wright, is considered the only 7-star hotel in the world. The construction of the hotel began in 1994. According to the original design, the building was supposed to resemble a dhow sail, a type of Arab ship. The luxurious building was officially opened in December 1999.

Located in Los Angeles, California, this amazing building is the fourth hall 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 the widow of Walt Disney donated $50 million to the building. 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. A 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.

With a height of 829.8 meters, the tower 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 able to hold such a huge height.

"Shard of Glass" or simply "Shard" is a huge 87-story skyscraper in London, part of London Bridge (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 Zin 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 postmodern style with traditional Chinese architectural details. The exterior of the building is made of glass, steel and granite. looks even more original and incredible.

Modern cities are made up of buildings of all styles, sizes, designs and shapes - from wooden one-story shacks to high-tech buildings that look like they stepped out of the pages of science fiction novels. Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol once said: "Architecture is also a chronicle of the world: it speaks when both songs and legends are already silent." We invite you to take a brief tour of the buildings that have become real architectural milestones in the history of mankind.

1. Hal Saflieni, Paola City, Malta

This underground sanctuary (hypogeum) is one of the most ancient buildings on Earth: according to some estimates, its construction began about six thousand years ago. Initially, Khal-Saflieni was used as a temple, and then began to serve as a burial place - during excavations, archaeologists discovered the remains of more than seven thousand ancient inhabitants of these places.

2. Pyramids of Giza, a suburb of Cairo, Egypt

The pyramids on the Giza Plateau are the only creation of the ancient architects of the legendary Seven Wonders of the World that has survived to this day (strictly speaking, only the highest of them, the Pyramid of Khufu, better known as the Pyramid of Cheops, is classified as a Miracle).

No wonder the Arabs say: "The world is afraid of time, and time is afraid of the pyramids" - for about four thousand years, the pyramid of Khufu was the tallest building on the planet and still amazes the imagination with its majesty and grandeur. Its height is 146.5 meters, the pyramids of Khafre (Chephren) and Menkaure (Mykerin) are slightly lower - 136.4 meters and 62 meters, respectively.

3. Temple of Jupiter, Baalbek, Lebanon

The debate about how the Egyptians managed to build "hills" of huge boulders weighing 2.5 tons will probably never subside. However, the builders of the temple of Jupiter in ancient city Baalbek could give them a head start in terms of the size of the “bricks”: when building the temple, they used three blocks weighing 800 tons each, although there are smaller ones, “only” 350 tons each.

Two kilometers from the temple, archaeologists found a block called the "South Stone" - its weight reaches over 1000 tons, but for some reason the largest "brick" remained in the quarry.

4. Assyrian aqueduct near the village of Jervan, Iraq

It's hard to believe, but this masterpiece of Assyrian architects, built in 703-688 BC by order of King Sennacherib, is an ordinary water supply that provided water to the capital of the Assyrian Empire, Nineveh. The length of the most famous part of the aqueduct, made of limestone, is about 300 meters, and the height is about 10 meters, while the total length of the ancient water supply system is more than 80 km.

5. Machu Picchu, Peru

The amazing quality of the buildings in Machu Picchu is explained either by the skill of the masons, or, more likely, by the extreme cruelty of the foremen, who forced them to work the blocks with copper and bronze tools so that they fit very tightly to each other and stand without any bonding solution for hundreds of years.

6. Aqueducts of the Roman Empire

Rounded arches were invented in Mesopotamia about four thousand years ago, but they are known all over the world thanks to the Romans, who willingly used this architectural detail in the construction of their aqueducts.

The highest of the ancient Roman aqueducts that have survived to this day is the Pont du Gard, located on the territory of modern France. The aqueduct, built in 40-66 AD, was part of the water supply system of the city of Nîmes, the height of the Pont du Gard is 47 meters and its length is 275 meters.

7 Alexandria Window Glass

The first transparent panes in human history appeared in Alexandria around 100 AD (some historians say they are at least 200 years older). One of the Roman glassblowers living in the city guessed to add manganese oxide to the glass mass, as a result of which such an innovative, as they would say now, architectural solution appeared.

8. Concrete domes of Roman temples

The huge stone domes used in many Christian churches were first created by the Romans after the invention of concrete.

The oldest example of the use of a concrete dome is the temple of Mercury, built between the 27th year BC and the 14th year after, during the reign of Emperor Augustus. The largest unreinforced concrete dome belongs to the Pantheon in Rome, completed in 127 AD.

9. Linen processing plant in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK

At first glance, this old building is unremarkable, but meanwhile it is respectfully called the “grandfather of skyscrapers”: when building a factory commissioned by British entrepreneur Charles Badge, architect and engineer William Strutt was one of the first in the world to use cast-iron beams and metal structures, which gave the structure an unprecedented strength.

The construction of the factory was completed in 1797, and for many years its design became a model for the construction of many other industrial and residential buildings.

10. Suspension bridge over the Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

One of the world's first suspension bridges, designed by engineers Erskine Hazard and Josiah White, was the largest of them at the time of opening in 1816, although it stood for only about a year.

11. Great Orangery Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, UK

The structure, designed by Joseph Paxton, the author of the famous Crystal Palace in London, was for some time the largest glass building in the world: its length was 96.2 meters, its width was 37.5 meters, and the greenhouse reached 20.4 meters in height.

Paxton, who served as a gardener at the residence of the Dukes of Devonshire, amazed the guests of the estate with his unprecedented fantastic designs, but many of them were too impractical: for example, to maintain the temperature in the greenhouse, eight boilers had to be built and 11 km of pipes laid. The Great Orangery cost Chatsworth House so much that it was demolished in 1923.

12. Four-story house, suburb of Paris, France

A nondescript, graffiti-covered building on one of the northern outskirts of Paris is a real architectural monument, although it's hard to believe. Its creators, engineer Francois Coignet and architect Theodore Lachaise, were the first to use reinforced concrete as a building material, after which this practice became widespread.

13. Oriel Chambers, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK

Although the factory in Shrewsbury is called the “grandfather of skyscrapers”, this honorary epithet should rightfully belong to a building erected in 1864 by architect Peter Ellis: load-bearing steel structures with window panes fixed to them were first used in Oriel Chambers - this is the technology used to build a large some of the tallest buildings on the planet.

14. Insurance Company Building, Chicago, Illinois, USA

The 42-meter building, built according to the project of William Le Baron Jenney, one of the most respected representatives of the Chicago school of architecture, belongs to the building, for the first time, so to speak, "scraped the sky."

The construction of the world's first skyscraper was completed in 1885, and in 1891 two more were added to its ten floors, and the height increased from 42 meters to 54.9 meters.

The architect, apparently, did not trust the strength of the steel frame too much, so he placed the concern for the stability of the building also on the back load-bearing wall and granite columns. Unfortunately, the first skyscraper has not survived to our time - in 1931 the building was demolished.

15. Ingalls Building, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Chicago is considered the birthplace of skyscrapers, but the world's first such structure made of reinforced concrete appeared in the city of Cincinnati in 1903. An unprecedented 15-story building 64 meters high was designed by the architectural bureau Elzner & Anderson for Melville Ingalls, one of the American financial tycoons of the early 20th century. The skyscraper has survived to this day and is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

16. Villa Savoy, Poissy, France

A small country villa, built in 1931 by the famous Le Corbusier, the founder of modernism in building design, is considered the embodiment of his "Five starting points modern architecture”, formulating the basic principles of Art Nouveau. These include flat roof, pillars, horizontal windows, free layout and free facade - the supports are not located outside the house, but in any way, external walls can also be any.

17. Solar House No. 1, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Employees of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, led by Hoyt Hottel, in 1939 built a building on the territory of the Institute, completely heated by solar energy. Later in scientific purposes several more similar houses were created, and the first commercial building, heated exclusively by the sun, appeared in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1956, it was designed by Frank Bridgers and Donald Paxton.

18. Echoviren, California, USA

In August this year, a team of Californian architects completed the construction of the world's first building, all building materials for which are made using 3D printing. Of course, it is difficult to call it a building, rather it is something like a small hut: its dimensions are 3 × 3 × 2.4 meters.

The project was named Echoviren - in honor of one of the rare species of redwoods, because the structure of the walls of the 3D hut resembles the cellular structure of the fibers of this tree. It took about 10,800 hours to manufacture its 585 components in total: for two months, seven 3D printers worked almost around the clock, and assembled the “building” in just four days.

Some of the most beautiful buildings in the world fascinate and captivate with their intricate shapes and configurations. Undoubtedly, these architectural structures deserve the highest praise and special attention. Let's dwell on the 25 most outstanding, built in various parts of the globe.

Burj Al Arab Hotel - Dubai

Burj Al Arab is considered the tallest hotel in the world. This 7-star 60-story building is built on a private artificial island on Jumeirah Beach. The hotel is built in the form of a sailboat, it is located at an altitude of 321 m above sea level.

Inside the building, there is a stunning design: many dancing fountains, huge aquariums, luxurious apartments with gilded decoration.

Catherine Palace - St. Petersburg

In the city of Pushkin near St. Petersburg, there is another beautiful building with a bright blue facade: the baroque palace of Catherine the Great. Crowds of tourists visit this magnificent structure to admire it, as well as the famous Amber Room, one of the wonders of the world. Particularly impressive is the graceful wing of the palace in the classical style, which was designed by the architect of Catherine II - Charles Cameron.

Guggenheim Museum - Bilbao, Spain

American architect Frank Gehry designed the Guggenheim Museum, which is located in Spain. The most innovative ideas of architecture of the 20th century intertwined in the bold contours of the building. The building, with an area of ​​24 thousand m2, is a landmark with an innovative design. The museum has radically changed the way we look at modern architecture. During the construction of the building, titanium was used with lines that change color in the sun.

Great Mosque - Djenne, Mali

South of the Sahara is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world - the mosque, which was built African tribes from clay bricks. The architectural complex was built in 1906 and is the largest structure in the world that is built entirely of mud. In 1988, the mosque was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

Sagrada Familia - Barcelona, ​​Spain

One of the main attractions of Spain, the symbol of Barcelona is Sagrada Familia or Sagrada Familia, which was designed by Antoni Gaudí. The architect spent 40 years building this Gothic cathedral. After the death of Gaudi, his associates continued to build the temple, it is worth noting that work continues to this day. According to the project, the completion of the construction of the church is expected in 2026.

Taj Mahal, India

This majestic building is located in India, on the southern bank of the Yamuna River. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum complex that took 20 years to build. In its construction, white marble was used, which changes color depending on the sunlight or moonlight. The building was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. The Taj Mahal is considered to be one of the most magnificent buildings in the world.

Wat Rong Khun - Thailand

Wat Rong Khun or "White Temple" is one of the most famous temples in Thailand. The uniqueness of the building is that it stands out for its crystal whiteness and sparkles in the sun. The temple was designed by a famous Thai artist. The building is yet to be improved. It is assumed that there will be nine buildings with halls for relics, meditation and living quarters for the monks.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque - UAE

One of the largest mosques in the world, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi is built of marble and can accommodate 40,000 people. The building was completed in 2007. White marble, brought from 28 countries of the world, was used in its construction. In the main hall there is a huge lamp weighing 9 tons, decorated with Swarovski crystals.

Church of the Savior on Blood - Russia

The Church of the Savior on Blood is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and is located in St. Petersburg. The impressive church began to be built in 1883. The majestic building is decorated with colorful towers, interiors with mosaics and unique exterior decoration.

Golden Temple - Amritsar, India

The Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) is a stunning building in India, erected in the middle of a lake. The building was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The style of the temple features Hindu and Muslim architecture, which is enhanced by the reflection in the water. It is believed that the building is a holy place and, being here, one must pray.

Shanghai Tower - China

The Shanghai Tower is one of the tallest and most beautiful buildings in the country. It surpasses in height even such buildings as the Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center. The height of the building is about 650 meters, and the total area is 380 thousand square meters.

World Trade Center 1 or "Freedom Tower" - New York, USA

The "Freedom Tower" in New York is the centerpiece of the World Trade Center in Manhattan. It was built on the site of the twin towers destroyed in the terrorist attack. The tower is the tallest building in the US.

Lotus Temple - Delhi, India

The Lotus Temple in New Delhi is one of the most beautiful temples in India. Designed by Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba. Previously, on the site of the building there was a mystical settlement of Baha Pur - "Bach's Dwelling". The second name of the Bahai temple is Lotus - the Mother of all temples on the Hindustan peninsula. Its magnificence has earned it many awards in architecture.

Grand Lisboa Casino Hotel - China

The Grand Lisboa was designed by renowned Hong Kong architects Dennis Lau and Ng Chun Meng. This impressive skyscraper with a height of 260 meters has 58 floors! Gaming establishments in the building began their work in February 2007. The entire surface of the hotel-casino is a screen of complex configuration. This solution is considered innovative.

Cathedral Mosque of Cordoba - Spain

The Cathedral Mosque of Cordoba in Spain is decorated with intricate patterns, mosaic ornaments and openwork columns. A few centuries ago, an ancient Roman temple stood on this site, then a Visigothic church, and in 785 Mesquita appeared. The pilgrimage to Cordoba was even equated with the obligatory hajj for every Muslim to Mecca.

St. Peter's Basilica - Vatican City, Italy

St. Peter's Basilica - one of the main attractions of the Vatican - is rightfully considered the heart of the Vatican and the entire Catholic world. From a bird's eye view, stunning views of Ancient Rome, and from the top of the dome you can admire the interior of the cathedral.

Bayon Temple Complex - Siem Reap, Cambodia

Bayon is one of the most amazing temples located on the territory of Angkor Thom and was its religious center. The “highlight” of Bayon is the towers with many faces carved from stone, silently looking from a height on the vast territory of Angkor Thom, and in the heyday of the state - on the entire Khmer Empire. Initially, there were 54 towers, which symbolized the 54 provinces under the rule of the king. Today, only about 37 towers have survived.

Shwedagon Pagoda - Yangon, Myanmar

One of the most majestic and spiritual buildings in Myanmar is the Shwedagon Pagoda. The entire complex is located on an area of ​​more than five hectares. In addition to the main building, there are many sculptural images of mythical and real animals around it: golden griffins, elephants, dragons and lions.

Australian War Memorial - Canberra

The Australian War Memorial is the main memorial dedicated to the memory of soldiers who died during the First and Second World Wars. Today it is considered one of the most significant monuments this kind in the world. The memorial is located near the Parliament building, from the balcony of which a panoramic view of the monument opens.

Mall - Las Vegas, USA

Fashion Show Mall is a one-of-a-kind large shopping mall in Las Vegas. On the territory of the building there are 250 boutiques, shops and six department stores of famous brands. The center opened in 1981, over the years it has grown to 175 thousand square meters. There is also a huge hall for fashion shows.

Music Building - China

This creative building called Piano House was built in China according to the project of architecture students. The building consists of two parts depicting two instruments - a transparent violin resting on a translucent piano.

The original building was built for music lovers, but it has nothing to do with music. There is an escalator in the violin, and an exhibition complex in the piano.

Siena Cathedral - Italy

According to the legend of the chroniclers, at the beginning of the 13th century, the inhabitants of the city-state of Siena, which acted as the main rival and opponent of Florence, “called on their leaders to build a temple more magnificent than that of their neighbors.” Thus, in the period from 1215 to 1263, the Duomo of Siena was founded on the site of the old temple according to the plan of the Gothic master Niccolò Pisano. Today this majestic temple is the main attraction of the city.

Milan Cathedral (Duomo) - Milan, Italy

One of significant places Milan is the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria Nashente (Duomo), which was built from 1386 until the early 19th century. The attraction is the third largest Catholic church, which is even considered one of the wonders of the world. Its hundred-meter spiers rise above the center of Milan, and the golden statue of the Madonna on the longest spire (four meters high) is visible from many parts of the city.

Sydney Opera House - Australia

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. Its architect was the Dane Jorn Utzon. Having designed the original roofs, somewhat reminiscent of shells, he made Sydney a magnificent gift - a symbol of the city. Today, every tourist, planning to visit Australia, must include an excursion to the majestic opera house in the program of his trip.

Angkor Wat - Siem Reap, Cambodia

The Cambodian temple of Angkor Wat is one of the largest places of worship ever built. It was built almost 9 centuries ago. It is located on an area of ​​200 hectares and is surrounded by a moat 190 meters wide. A temple was built in honor of the god Vishnu, who is revered in this area.