Some people travel for the culture, and some people travel for food. And then again, there are some who travel for architecture. Scattered around the world are some of the most beautifully designed buildings, and below are just some of them.
Burj Khalifa in Dubai
Image sourced from Travel Channel
Probably one of the most mentioned, and deservedly so, is the Burj Khalifa – the tallest tower in the world. Standing at 2,722 feet tall, Burj Khalifa in Dubai was designed by Adrian Smith from the then Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).
The USD1.5 billion award-winning skyscraper has been receiving accolades for having firsts-of many, alongside recognition for its technology and design. It currently houses observatory decks, corporates offices as well as Armani Hotel and Residences.
Musée d’Orsay in Paris
Image sourced from Architectural Digest
The Orsay itself is an art-nouveau showpiece on the left bank of the Seine in France. Formerly a railway station building turned into a national museum devoted to all the arts between 1848 to 1914, it is hard not to be dazzled by the beauty of this place that resembles a palace.
Constructed by Victor Laloux for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, the interior of the Orsay was recently refurbished in 2011 to house all the collections that represent expressive forms, from painting to architecture, as well as sculpture, the decorative arts and photography.
The Shard in London
Image sourced from Architectural Digest
Staying true to its tagline, The Shard is home to some of the best offices, restaurants and hotel rooms in London – along with breath-taking views. The 95-storey or 1,012 feet skyscraper was designed by Italian architect, Renzo Piano and happens to be the second tallest building in United Kingdom.
The glass-clad pyramidal tower has 72 habitable floors, with a viewing gallery and open-air observation deck on the 72nd floor, at a height of 802 feet. It even comes with 36 lifts, some of which are double-decker. One can imagine the panoramic views of the River Thames and London city from the any of the Shangri-La Hotel suites or F&B offerings at The Shard.
The Lotus Temple in New Delhi
Image sourced from Architectural Digest
A place of worship with one of the best modern-day architectural marvels is the Lotus Temple in New Delhi. With a capacity of 2,500 people, the Bahai house of worship’s structure has nine sides to the temple, formed by 27 marble petals, arranged in groups of three. The nine doors lead to a central prayer hall made of marble and is about 40m high.
Winner of multiple architectural awards, the Lotus Temple is also touted to be one of the most visited places in the world by a CNN report. Designed by Iranian architect Fariborz Sahbas and completed in 1986, the 26 acres place of worship have their own stamps, books and musical compositions created to showcase its beauty and grandeur.
The Flatiron Building in New York
Image sourced from Architectural Digest
The Flatiron Building in New York boasts a distinctive triangular shape to fill the wedge-shaped plot located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway. Designed by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham and build in 1902, the building was intended to serve as offices for the George A. Fuller Company, a major contracting firm.
Standing tall at 22 stories and 307 feet, the Flatiron is one of the most dramatic-looking building and its popularity with photographers and artists has made it a lasting symbol of New York.
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao
Image sourced from Architectural Digest
One of the most admired works of contemporary architecture, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain is one of several museums belonging to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and features permanent and visiting exhibits of works by Spanish and international artists.
Designed by American architect Frank Gehry, the design of the museum has an integration of Bilbao’s urban pattern and its surrounding area. Spread across 5.93 acres, the structure was constructed of titanium, limestone, and glass, making it an iconic structure and was even named as one of the most important works completed since 1980 in the 2010 World Architecture Survey among architecture experts.
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