Old or new, with complex or simple structures, these buildings are undoubtedly the most incredible in the world. There are attractive ones, there are unusual ones, and there are just crazy buildings that are unlike anything else. Sometimes it can even be difficult to immediately understand what is in front of you - a house or something else?
Lotus Temple
(Delhi, India)
The main Bahai temple of India and neighboring countries, built in 1986. Located in New Delhi, the capital of India. A huge building made of snow-white Pentelic marble in the shape of a blooming lotus flower is one of the most popular attractions among tourists in Delhi. Known as the main temple of the Indian subcontinent and the main attraction of the city.
The Lotus Temple has won several architectural awards and has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles. In 1921, the young Bombay Baha'i community asked 'Abdu'l-Bahá for permission to build a Baha'i temple in Bombay, to which the answer was allegedly given: "By the will of God, in the future a majestic temple of worship will be erected in one of the central cities of India," that is, in Delhi .
"Khan Shatyr"
(Astana, Kazakhstan)
A large shopping and entertainment center in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana (architect - Norman Foster). Opened on July 6, 2010, it is considered the largest tent in the world. total area"Khan Shatyra" - 127,000 m2. It houses retail, shopping and entertainment complexes, including a supermarket, a family park, cafes and restaurants, cinemas, Sport halls, a water park with an artificial beach and pools with wave effect, service and office premises, parking for 700 spaces and much more.
The highlight of “Khan Shatyr” is a beach resort with a tropical climate, plants and a temperature of +35°C all year round. The resort's sandy beaches are equipped with a heating system that creates the feeling of a real beach, and the sand is imported from the Maldives. The building is a giant 150 m high tent (spire), constructed from a network of steel cables, on which a transparent ETFE polymer coating is fixed. Thanks to its special chemical composition, it protects the interior of the complex from sudden temperature changes and creates a comfortable microclimate inside the complex. “Khan Shatyr” entered the top ten world eco-buildings according to Forbes Style magazine, becoming the only building from the entire CIS that the publication decided to include in its hit parade.
The opening of the Khan Shatyr shopping and entertainment center took place as part of the celebration of Astana Day with the participation of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. During the opening ceremony, a concert by world performer, Italian tenor of classical music Andrea Bocelli took place. The most interesting thing is that any Tyumen resident can visit this amazing place: Astana is only a nine-hour drive.
Guggenheim Museum
(Bilbao, Spain)
Designed by American architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Museum is a magnificent example of the most innovative ideas in 20th century architecture. Constructed from titanium, it is decorated with wavy lines that change color under the sun's rays. The total area is 24,000 m2, 11,000 of which are dedicated to exhibitions.
The Guggenheim Museum is a true architectural landmark, a showcase of daring configurations and innovative design that provides a seductive backdrop to the artworks housed within. This building changed the world's view of modern architecture and museums and became a symbol of the rebirth of the industrial city of Bilbao.
National Library
(Minsk, Belarus)
The history of the National Library of Belarus begins on September 15, 1922. On this day, by the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the BSSR, the Belarusian State and University Library was founded. The number of readers was constantly increasing. Over the course of its history, the library has replaced several buildings, and soon the need arose to build a new large and functional library building.
Back in 1989, a competition for designs for a new library building was held at the republican level. The “glass diamond” by architects Mikhail Vinogradov and Viktor Kramarenko was recognized as the best. On May 19, 1992, by Resolution of the Council of Ministers, the Belarusian State Library received national status. On March 7, 2002, the President of the Republic signed a decree on the construction of the building government agency"National Library of Belarus". But its construction began only in November 2002.
The opening ceremony of the “Belarusian diamond” took place on June 16, 2006. President of Belarus Alexander Grigorievich Lukashenko (who, by the way, received library card No. 1) noted at the opening ceremony that “this unique building combines the strict beauty of modern architecture and the latest scientific and technical solutions.” Indeed, the National Library of Belarus is a unique architectural, construction, software and hardware complex, built in accordance with the latest scientific and technical developments and aimed at meeting the information and sociocultural needs of society.
The new library building houses 20 reading rooms, which can accommodate 2,000 users. All halls are equipped with electronic departments for issuing documents, modern equipment, allowing you to scan and copy documents, print from electronic copies. The halls have computerized workstations, workstations for visually impaired and blind users, equipped with special equipment.
crooked house
(Sopot, Poland)
In the Polish city of Sopot, on the Heroes of Monte Cassino Street, there is one of the most unusual houses on the planet - the Crooked House (in Polish - Krzywy Domek). It seems that it either melted in the sun, or it is an optical illusion, and this is not the house itself, but only its reflection in a huge crooked mirror.
A crooked house is truly crooked and does not contain a single flat place or corner. It was built in 2004 according to the design of two Polish architects – Szotinski and Zalewski – who were impressed by the drawings of artists Jan Marcin Schanzer and Per Oskar Dahlberg. The authors’ main task for the customer, which was the Resident shopping center, was to create the appearance of the building that would attract as many visitors as possible. A variety of materials are used in the design of the facade: from glass to stone, and the roof made of enamel plates resembles the back of a dragon. The doors and windows are just as asymmetrical and intricately curved, giving the house the appearance of some kind of fairy-tale hut.
The Crooked House is open 24 hours a day. During the day there is a shopping center, cafes and other establishments, and in the evening there are pubs and clubs. In the dark the house becomes even more beautiful. In 2009, the building was recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the Tricity, which includes the cities of Gdynia, Gdansk and Sopot. According to a recent survey by The Village of Joy, Crooked House topped the list of the fifty most unusual buildings in the world.
teapot building
(Jiangsu, China)
In China, the construction of the cultural and exhibition center Wuxi Wanda Exhibition Center, made in the form of a clay teapot, is being completed. This building has already officially entered the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest teapot in the world. The choice of this form is not accidental: clay teapots have been considered symbols of the Celestial Empire since the 15th century. They are still produced in Jiangsu Province, where the Wuxi Wanda Exhibition Center is located. In addition to making clay teapots, China is also famous for its elite varieties of tea.
Developer The Wanda Group announced that 40 billion yuan ($6.4 billion) were spent on the construction of the cultural and exhibition center. The result was a structure with an area of 3.4 million m2, a height of 38.8 m and a diameter of 50 m. The outside of the building is sheathed with aluminum sheets, which provide the necessary curvature of the frame. In addition to them, stained glass windows of different sizes play an important role.
The center of Wuxi Wanda will feature exhibition halls, a water park, a roller coaster, and a Ferris wheel. In addition, each of the three floors of the building will be able to rotate on its own axis. The cultural and exhibition center is part of the Tourism City shopping and entertainment complex, the construction of which is planned to be completed by 2017.
"Habitat 67"
(Montreal, Canada)
The unusual residential complex in Montreal was designed by architect Moshe Safdie in 1966–1967. The complex was built for the start of Expo 67, one of the largest world exhibitions of that time, the theme of which was houses and residential construction.
The basis of the structure is 354 cubes, built on top of each other. It was they who made it possible to create this gray building with 146 apartments, where families live who exchanged a quiet house in a residential area for such a non-standard house. Most apartments have a private garden on the roof of the neighbor below.
The building style is considered brutalism. Habitat 67 was built more than 45 years ago, but still amazes with its scale. This is, without a doubt, one of the few modern utopias that not only came to life, but also became very popular and was even considered elite.
Dancing building
(Prague, Czech Republic)
An office building in Prague in the deconstructivist style consists of two cylindrical towers: a conventional one and a destructive one. The Dancing House, jokingly called "Ginger and Fred", is an architectural metaphor for the dancing couple Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. One of the two cylindrical parts, which expands upward, symbolizes a male figure (Fred), and the second visually resembles a female figure with a thin waist and a fluttering skirt (Ginger).
Like many deconstructivist buildings, the building contrasts sharply with its neighbor - an integral architectural complex of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The office center, which houses several international companies, is located in Prague 2, on the corner of Resslova Street and the embankment. On the roof there is a French restaurant overlooking Prague, La Perle de Prague.
Forest spiral building
(Darmstadt, Germany)
The Austrian genius Friedensreich Hundertwasser donated a unique building to the German city of Darmstadt in 2000. Painted in different colors, a magic house from a children's fairy tale with floating lines of a curved facade, it looks out onto the world with 1048 windows of non-repeating shapes, sizes and decor. Real trees grow from some of the windows.
This original structure in the form of a horseshoe spiraling upward is called “an unusual house among the usual monotony.” It was built in a “biomorphic” style, although, in fact, it is a real 12-story residential complex, or rather, a kind of fairy-tale green village. It includes not only a house with 105 comfortable apartments, but also a quiet courtyard with artificial lakes, shaped bridges and paths trodden right in the grass; artistically designed children's playgrounds; closed parking lots; shops; pharmacy and other elements of developed infrastructure.
Upside Down House
(Szymbark, Poland)
The unique house, which sits on the roof, is decorated in the socialist style of the 1970s. An upside-down house evokes strange sensations: the entrance is on the roof, everyone enters through the window, and guests walk on the ceiling. The interior is decorated in the style of socialist realism: there is a lounge room with a TV and a chest of drawers. There is also a table made from the longest solid board in the world - 36.83 m. Of course, the Guinness Book of Records did not ignore it.
The building took more time and money to construct than a conventional house of the same size. The foundation required 200 m³ of concrete. The author of the project was asked many times whether his project was related to commercial purposes. The answer was always a stubborn “no.” However, the upside-down house turned out to be a commercial success.
Not only Poles, but also foreign tourists come to test their strength and look at the interesting structure. Through the attic window you can enter the house and, carefully maneuvering between the chandeliers, walk around the rooms. Some sources claim that the developer intended to use the new building as his own home. Whether this is so is unknown, but the upside-down house in Szymbark never became residential.
However, there is nothing to complain about: the line of tourists wanting to walk around inside does not dry out, so there would be no question of any quiet life. A few years ago, in the vicinity of the house, there was even a kind of gathering of local Santa Clauses, who not only discussed their problems, but also practiced getting inside the house through a pipe, since, fortunately for them, it rests on the ground.
Wat Rong Khun
(Chiang Rai, Thailand)
Wat Rong Khun, better known as the White Temple, is considered one of the most recognizable temples in Thailand and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. The temple is located outside the city of Chiang Rai and attracts a large number of visitors, Thai and foreign. This is one of the most visited attractions in Chiang Rai and the most unusual Buddhist temple.
Wat Rong Khun looks like an ice house. Because of its color, the building is noticeable from afar, and it sparkles in the sun thanks to the inclusions of glass pieces in the plaster. The white color signifies the purity of the Buddha, while the glass symbolizes the wisdom of the Buddha and the Dharma, the Buddhist teachings. They say the best time to visit the White Temple is at sunrise or sunset, when it reflects beautifully in the sun's rays.
Construction of the temple began in 1997 and is still ongoing. It is being built by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat using his own own funds proceeds from sales of paintings. The artist refused sponsors: he wants to make the temple the way only he wants.
Basket building
(Ohio, USA)
The basket building was built in 1997. The weight of the structure is approximately 8500 tons, the weight of the supporting supports is 150 tons. Almost 8,000 m3 of reinforced concrete was used during construction. The usable area of the building is 180,000 square feet. The basket is located on an area of about 20,000 square feet (approximately 2200 m2) and completely copies one of its owner's trademarks.
When the project architect Nikolina Georgievsha found out what was in store for her, she exclaimed: “Wow! I’ve never done anything like this before!” Indeed, this building cannot be called standard. Unlike other buildings, it expands upward. This made it possible to significantly increase the working space of the offices: the building is designed for a staff of 500 employees. Not bad, considering that the building also has a seven-story atrium with an area of 3,300 m2, around which the offices are located. In addition, the ground floor is occupied by a theater-like auditorium with 142 seats. The building aspires to a certain pomp: the design takes into account two plates attached to the building with the owner’s trademark, coated with 23-karat gold.
(Sanji, Taiwan)
The strange and wonderful town of Sanji in Taiwan is an abandoned resort complex. The houses in it were shaped like a flying saucer, so they were called UFO houses. The city was purchased as a resort for American military personnel serving in East Asia.
The original idea for building such houses belonged to the owner of the Sanjhih Township plastics company, Mr. Yu-Ko Chow. The first construction license was issued in 1978. The design was developed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen. But construction was stopped in 1980 when Yu-Chou declared bankruptcy. All efforts to resume work came to nothing. In addition, several serious accidents occurred during construction due to the allegedly disturbed spirit of the mythical Chinese dragon (as superstitious people claimed). Many believed that the place was haunted. As a result, the village was abandoned and soon became known as a ghost town.
Stone house
(Fafe, Portugal)
The Casa do Penedo house in the mountains of Portugal, built between four boulders, resembles a Stone Age dwelling. The isolated hut was built in 1974 by Vitor Rodriguez and was intended for relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The desire for simplicity did not make the Rodriguez family hermits, but brought them closer to a natural lifestyle without excesses. Electricity was never installed in the house; Candles are still used for lighting here. The room is heated using a fireplace carved into one of the boulders. The stone walls serve as a continuation of the interior decoration: even the steps leading to the second floor are carved directly into the stones.
The stone hut, reminiscent of the home of the characters in the American animated series “The Flintstones,” blended so organically into the surrounding landscape that it aroused great interest among architects and tourists. The curiosity of local residents and passing travelers forced the Rodriguez family to leave the house. Now no one lives in the hut, but the owners sometimes visit their unusual home. Only in this case there is a chance to see unusual interiors; at other times it is impossible to get inside Casa do Penedo.
central Library
(Kansas City, Missouri, USA)
Located in the heart of Kansas City, it is one of the first projects aimed at revitalizing the city and its historical and tourism value. Residents were asked to remember the most famous books that were somehow connected with the name of Kansas City, and over the course of two years they selected twenty fiction books. The appearance of these publications was incorporated into the innovative design of the Central City Library to encourage visitation.
The library building looks like a bookshelf on which giant books are laid out. Each of them reaches seven meters in height and about two meters in width. Nowadays, libraries have at their disposal not only the most modern technologies and excellent quality of service, but also conference rooms, a cafe, an examination room and much more. The Kansas City Public Library has unique architecture that is stunning. Today it is the pride of the residents of the city of Kansas. Its construction became one of the most significant events in the transformation of a provincial town into a thriving metropolis. The library has ten branches, the main one of which is the largest and has special collections. The library's arsenal is 2.5 million books, attendance is more than 2.4 million clients per year.
The history of the library begins in 1873, when it opened its doors to readers and immediately became not only a source of resources for education, but also an excellent alternative to other entertainment establishments of the time. The public library has moved many times, and in 1999 it was moved to the former First national bank. The century-old building was a true masterpiece of craftsmanship: marble columns, bronze doors and walls richly decorated with stucco. But still it required reconstruction. Through public-private cooperation, funds collected from public and municipal budget, as well as sponsorship, the doors of the Kansas Public Library were opened in 2004 in the form in which it is now.
Solar oven
(Odelio, France)
A stunning structure that looks like and is, in fact, an oven, the Solar Oven in France is designed to generate and concentrate the high temperatures required for various processes. This happens by trapping the sun's rays and concentrating their energy in one place.
The structure is covered with curved mirrors, their radiance is so great that it is impossible to look at them. The structure was erected in 1970, and the Eastern Pyrenees was chosen as the most suitable location. Before today The furnace remains the largest in the entire world. The array of mirrors functions as a parabolic reflector, and the high temperature regime at the focus itself can reach up to 3500°C. You can regulate the temperature by changing the angles of the mirrors.
Using a natural resource such as sunlight,The solar oven is considered indispensable for obtaining high temperatures. And they, in turn, are used for a variety of processes. Thus, the production of hydrogen requires a temperature of 1400°C. Test modes for spacecraft and nuclear reactors require a temperature of 2500°C, and without a temperature of 3500°C it is impossible to create nanomaterials. In short, the Solar Furnace is not just an amazing building, but also vital and efficient. At the same time, it is considered an environmentally friendly and relatively cheap way to obtain high temperatures.
"Robert Ripley's House"
(Niagara Falls, Canada)
"Ripley's House" in Orlando - illustration on the theme technical revolution, but natural elements. This house was built in memory of the magnitude 8 earthquake that happened here in 1812.
Today, the allegedly cracked building is recognized as one of the most photographed buildings in the world. "Believe it or not!" (Ripley's Believe It or Not!) is a patented network of so-called Ripley Auditoriums (museums of strange and incredible things), of which there are more than 30 in the world.
The idea came from Robert Ripley (1890–1949), an American cartoonist, entrepreneur and anthropologist. The first traveling collection, Ripley's Auditorium, was presented in Chicago in 1933 during the World's Fair. On a permanent basis, the first museum “Believe it or not!” was opened after Ripley's death, in 1950 in Florida, in the city of St. Augustine. The Canadian museum of the same name was founded in 1963 in the city of Niagara Falls (Niagara Falls, Ontario) and still has a reputation as the best museum in the city. The Auditorium building is built in the shape of the falling Empire State Building (New York) with King Kong standing on the roof.
Boot House
(Pennsylvania, USA)
The shoe house in Pennsylvania (York County) was conceived by a very successful businessman, Colonel Mahlon N. Heintz. At that time, he owned a thriving shoe company, which included about 40 shoe stores. At that time, Heinz was already 73 years old, but he loved his business so much that he commissioned an architect to create an unusual structure in the shape of a boot. This was in 1948. Already in 1949, the dream of a shoe businessman was realized, and the restless Mahlon N. Heinz was able not only to admire the extraordinary building, but also to live there.
The length of this house is 12 m, height – 8. Its facade was made as follows: first, a wooden frame was created, which was then filled with cement. Surprisingly, even the mailbox of this house is made in the shape of a shoe. There is a boot in the bars on the windows and doors. Near the house there is a dog kennel, which was also made in the shape of a shoe. And even the sign located on the road has shoes. But in fact, the shoe house has such an orientation only from the outside. Inside, this is a completely comfortable home, quite cozy and spacious. An external staircase (most likely a fire staircase) is mounted on the side of the house, allowing access to all five tiers of the unusual building.
Dome house
(Florida, USA)
After a series of destructive hurricanes and tropical storms in the state of Florida (USA), as a result of which Mark and Valeria Sigler were left without a roof over their heads each time, they decided to build a house that could withstand the pressure of the elements and at the same time be beautiful and comfortable. The result of their work was a house with an unusually strong structure and a unique design.
For people living in coastal areas, it is very important that they have somewhere to return to after a storm. Ordinary houses are very often destroyed to the ground, while the “Dome House” can stand as if nothing had happened even under a wind rushing at a speed of 450 km/h. At the same time, the Sigler house fits perfectly into the surrounding landscape: the dome perfectly suits the surroundings of dunes, ponds and vegetation. The structure of the building is made of modern environmentally friendly materials that can last for several centuries.
Cube buildings
(Rotterdam, Netherlands)
A number of unusual houses were built in Rotterdam and Helmond according to the innovative design of the architect Piet Blom in 1984. Blom's radical decision was that he rotated the parallelepiped of the house by 45 degrees and placed it at an angle on a hexagonal pylon. There are 38 of these houses in Rotterdam and two more super-cubes, all of which are articulated with each other. From a bird's eye view, the complex has an intricate appearance, resembling an impossible triangle.
The houses consist of three floors:
● Ground floor- entrance.
● The first is a living room with a kitchen.
● Second – two bedrooms with a bathroom.
● Upper – sometimes a small garden is planted here.
The walls and windows are inclined at an angle of 54.7 degrees in relation to the floor. The total area of the apartment is about 100 m2, but about a quarter of the space is unusable due to the walls, which are at an angle.
Burj Al Arab Hotel
(Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Luxury hotel in Dubai, the largest city in the United States United Arab Emirates. The building stands in the sea at a distance of 280 m from the shore on an artificial island connected to the land by a bridge. With a height of 321 m, the hotel was considered the tallest hotel in the world until another Dubai hotel, the 333 m tall Rose Tower, opened in April 2008.
Construction of the hotel began in 1994, and it opened to visitors on December 1, 1999. The hotel was built in the shape of the sail of a dhow, an Arabian ship. Closer to the top there is a helipad, and on the other side is the El Muntaha restaurant (from Arabic - “the highest”). Both are supported by cantilever beams.
Absolute Towers
Like every other fast-growing suburb in North America, Mississauga is looking for a new architectural identity. Towers "Absolute" steel new opportunity to respond to the needs of an ever-expanding city, to create a residential landmark that will claim to be more than just efficient housing. They can create a permanent emotional connection for residents with their hometown. Such a structure can easily be included in the list of the most beautiful skyscrapers in the world.
Instead of the simple, functional logic of modernism, the design of the towers expresses complex, multiple needs modern society. These buildings are much more than just multifunctional machines. It is something beautiful, human and alive. The towers play an important role as a gateway to the city, located at the intersection of two main city streets.
Despite the special status of these towers as a significant landmark, the emphasis in the design was not on their height, as is the case with most of the tallest buildings in the world. Thanks to design features continuous balconies surround the entire building, eliminating the vertical barriers traditionally used in architecture high-rise buildings. The Absolute Towers rotate in different projections at different levels, blending with the surrounding landscapes. The designers' goal was to provide good review 360 degrees from anywhere in the building, as well as provide residents with contact with natural elements, awakening in them a reverent attitude towards nature. The height of Tower A with 56 floors is 170 m, and Tower B with 50 floors is 150 m.
Pabellon de Aragon
(Zaragoza, Spain)
The building, which looks like a wicker basket, appeared in Zaragoza in 2008. The construction was timed to coincide with the full-scale exhibition Expo 2008, dedicated to the problems of water shortage on the planet. The Aragon Pavilion, literally woven from glass and steel, is crowned with strange-looking structures placed on the roof.
According to its creators, the structure reflects the deep imprint that five ancient civilizations left on the territory of Zaragoza. In addition, inside the building you can learn about the history of water and how man learned to manage the planet's water resources.
(Graz, Austria)
This museum and gallery of contemporary art was 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 facade of the museum was made by realities:united using BIX technology as a media installation with an area of 900 m2, consisting of luminous elements that can be programmed using a computer. It allows the museum to communicate with the surrounding urban space.
The installation won a number of awards. The BIX façade was conceived when the rest of the building was already being worked out. In addition to the late deadlines, it was difficult to integrate into the concepts of other authors. In addition, the facade, without a doubt, became the dominant element of the architectural image. The architect-authors accepted the facade design because it was based on their original ideas about a large luminous surface.
Concert hall
(Canary Islands, Spain)
One of the most famous and recognizable buildings in Spain, the symbol of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, one of the most significant works of modern architecture and one of the main attractions of the Canary Islands. The opera was built according to a design by Santiago Calatrava in 2003.
The Auditorio de Tenerife building is located in the city center, close to the Cesar Manrique Marine Park, the city port and the Twin Towers of Torres de Santa Cruz. There is a tram station nearby. You can enter the opera hall from both sides of the building. The Auditorio de Tenerife has two terraces overlooking the sea.
Coin building
(Guangzhou, China)
In the Chinese city of Guangzhou there is a unique building in the shape of a huge disk with a hole inside. It will house the Guangdong Plastics Exchange. The final cosmetic work is currently underway here.
The coin building, 33 floors and 138 meters high, has an opening with a diameter of almost 50 meters, which has a functional, as well as design, significance. The main shopping area will be located around it. It is obvious that the building has already become one of the main attractions of Guangdong province. However, opinions are divided regarding its symbolic meaning.
The Italian company that developed the project claims that the shape is based on jade discs that were owned by ancient Chinese rulers and nobility. They symbolized the high moral qualities of a person. In addition, together with its reflection in the Pearl River, on which the building stands, it forms the number 8. According to the Chinese, it brings good luck. However, many citizens of Guangzhou saw in this building a Chinese coin, symbolizing the desire for material wealth, and the people already nicknamed this building “the disk of the wasteful rich.” It has not yet been announced when the building will be open to visitors.
"Stone Cave"
(Barcelona, Spain)
Construction began in 1906, and by 1910 the five-story building had already become one of the most famous buildings in Barcelona. Locals They dubbed it “La Pedrera” - a stone cave. And indeed, the house resembled a real cave. When creating it, Gaudi basically abandoned straight lines. The five-story residential building was built without a single corner. The architect made the load-bearing structures not walls, but columns and vaults, which gave him unlimited scope in the layout of rooms, the heights of which were different.
In order for a sufficient amount of light to penetrate into each room with such a complex layout, Gaudi had to make several courtyards with light ovals. Thanks to these numerous ovals, windows and undulating balconies, the house looks like a block of solidified lava. Or on a cliff with caves.
Music building
(Huainan, China)
Piano House consists of two parts depicting two instruments: a transparent violin rests on a translucent piano. The unique building was built for music lovers, but has nothing to do with music. In the violin there is an escalator, and in the piano there is an exhibition complex in which plans of streets and districts of the city are presented to visitors. The facility was created at the suggestion of local authorities.
The unusual building seeks to attract the attention of Chinese residents and numerous tourists to the new developing area, in which it has become the most iconic object. Thanks to the continuous glazing of the facades with transparent and tinted glass, the premises of the complex receive the maximum possible natural light. And at night, the body of the object disappears in the darkness, leaving only the neon contours of the silhouettes of giant “tools” visible. Despite its popularity, the building is often criticized as a kind of postmodern kitsch and a typical student project, in which there is much more outrageousness than art and functionality.
CCTV Headquarters
(Beijing, China)
CCTV headquarters is a skyscraper in Beijing. The building will house the headquarters of China Central Television. Construction works began on September 22, 2004, and were completed in 2009. The architects of the building are Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren (OMA company).
The skyscraper is 234 m high and consists of 44 floors. The main building is built in an unusual style and is a ring-shaped structure of five horizontal and vertical sections forming an irregular lattice on the building's façade with an empty center. The total floor area is 473,000 m².
The construction of the building was considered a difficult task, especially considering its location in a seismic zone. Because of its unusual shape, it has already acquired the nickname “pants”. The second building, the Television Cultural Centre, will house the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, a visitor centre, a large public theater and exhibition space.
Ferrari World Amusement Park
(Yas Island, Abu Dhabi)
Ferrari Theme Park is housed under a 200,000 m² roof and is the world's largest indoor theme park. Ferrari World officially opened on November 4, 2010. It is also home to the world's fastest pneumatic roller coaster, Formula Rossa.
The symbolic roof of Ferrari World was designed by Benoy architects. It was designed based on the profile of the Ferrari GT. Ramboll provided structural engineering, integrated planning and urban design, geotechnical engineering and building façade design. The total roof area is 200,000 m² with a perimeter of 2,200 m, the park area is 86,000 m², making it the largest theme park in the world.
The roof of the building is decorated with the Ferrari logo measuring 65 by 48.5 m. This is the largest company logo ever created. 12,370 tons of steel were used to support the roof. In its center there is a hundred-meter glass funnel.
Innovative residential complex Reversible-Destiny Lofts
(Tokyo, Japan)
According to the architect's plan, the apartments in the complex he created are designed in such a way that their inhabitants are always on alert. Uneven multi-level floors, concave and convex walls, doors that you can only enter by bending over, rosettes on the ceiling - in a word, not life, but a complete adventure. It is impossible to relax in such conditions.
Man constantly struggles with environment, so there’s simply no time left to mope or think about illnesses. What is this - shock therapy or a joyful game is not yet clear. But the Japanese, reserved and subservient to traditions and taste, are willing to pay twice as much for uncomfortable apartments as for comfortable and familiar ones located in the same area. It’s interesting that all the “apartments” are rented and are not sold as property. Moreover, the 83-year-old Buddhist nun and popular writer Jakute Setouchi, who was the first to settle in the new house, claims that since the move she began to feel younger and much better.
"Thin House"
(London, Great Britain)
The unusual residential building, also known as the Thin House, is located near the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London. This house became famous throughout the world thanks to its wedge-shaped shape, or rather, the width of one of the sides of the building - a little more than a meter.
At first glance, the incredibly narrow structure of the building is just an optical illusion. Despite this, The Thin House has become very popular among Londoners and tourists. The reason for this architectural idea is not accidental. The South Kensington underground train line runs directly behind the house.
Due to the unusual design of the house, the apartments do not have a standard rectangular shape, but a trapezoid shape. For narrow rooms it is necessary to select non-standard furniture. In any case, despite a number of disadvantages, apartments in “thin” buildings are very popular among those wishing to acquire new housing.
Air Force Academy Chapel
(Colorado, USA)
Startling appearance The Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel in Colorado Springs caused some controversy when it was completed in 1963, but is now considered one of the finest examples of modern American architecture.
Made from steel, aluminum and glass, the Cadet Chapel has 17 pointed spiers reminiscent of fighter jets taking to the skies. Inside there are two main levels and one basement. There is a Protestant chapel with 1,200 seats, a 500-seat Catholic chapel and a 100-seat Jewish chapel. Each chapel has separate entrance, so sermons can be held simultaneously without interfering with each other.
The Protestant chapel, which occupies the upper level, has stained glass windows between the tetrahedral walls. The colors of the windows range from dark to light, representing God coming from darkness into light. The altar is made of a smooth marble slab 15 feet long, shaped like a ship, symbolizing the church. Church pews are designed in such a way that the end of each pew resembles the propeller of a World War I aircraft. Their backs are topped with a strip of aluminum, like the leading edge of a fighter plane's wing. The walls of the chapel are decorated with paintings, which are divided into three groups: brotherhood, flight (in honor of the Air Force) and justice.
On the lower level there are multi-faith rooms, defined as places of worship for cadets of other religious groups. They are left without religious symbolism so that they can be used by many people.
Industrial buildings-buildings, intended for the location of industrial production, providing the necessary operating conditions and normal life activities of people involved in the production process.
The functional purpose of buildings mainly determines their shape. And the functional purpose is primarily determined by the social needs of society, which depend on the inherent nature of production relations. Therefore, typology in architecture reflects the nature of the production relations of society.
The primary typological classification of buildings and structures that currently exist includes four main groups, corresponding to the main types of human activity: everyday life, work and social and administrative activities:
Public buildings and structures
Residential buildings
Industrial buildings and structures
Buildings and structures intended for agricultural needs
Each of these groups in turn has its own typological structure depending on the specifics of this group. The main feature of a building, by which its membership in a particular group is determined, is its purpose as a reflection of society’s need for a building of a certain type for a specific purpose.
For example, public buildings and structures are classified according to the areas of cultural and community services for the population:
1) healthcare; 2) science, education and training; 3) education and training: 4) physical education and sports: 5) mass recreation; 6) transport and communications; 7) catering; 8) trade: 9) household services; 10) management and administrative activities; 11) public utilities.
The system for organizing full-fledged cultural and everyday services for the population must satisfy all the needs of society, according to which it has an extensive structure of institutions and a significant number of types of buildings and structures.
In addition to the typological classification, i.e. the classification of buildings by purpose, there is a division of buildings into classes according to importance.
Each class of buildings (there are four of them) is subject to certain requirements regarding capital (building materials and structures, fire resistance, etc.), the degree of urban planning and national economic significance, and performance characteristics.
Class I buildings. Residential and public buildings that meet increased requirements (public buildings that play a particularly important role in the composition of cities, residential buildings above six floors, etc.).
Class II buildings. Mass construction buildings, residential buildings 4-5 floors.
Class III buildings. Low-rise buildings with small capacity.
Class IV buildings. Buildings that meet minimum requirements.
Based on the nature of the relationship between the functional groups of premises, the following main types of volumetric solutions are distinguished:
1. Centralized type of building (all groups of premises are located inside one, main volume; the connection between them is internal. The main development of the volume is vertical).
2. Blocked type of building (the main groups of premises are located in separate blocks connected by heated passages).
3. Pavilion type of building (separate groups of premises are connected by covered unheated passages or a section. The main development of the volume is horizontal). However, such a division is conditional. Very often there are compositions that include individual features of several of the listed types.
Classification of residential buildings
According to their purpose, that is, according to the population for which they are intended and the length of residence, residential buildings are divided into four main types:
Residential apartment buildings for family occupancy and permanent residence;
Dormitories for temporary (long-term) accommodation of workers during work and students during their studies;
Hotels for short-term accommodation of periodically changing contingents coming from other populated areas;
Boarding schools for permanent residence of the disabled and elderly
Based on the number of floors, residential buildings are divided into:
Low-rise (1 - 2 floors);
Mid-rise (3 - 5 floors);
Multi-storey (6 or more floors);
High number of floors (11 - 16 floors);
High-rise (more than 16 floors)
By number of apartments:
For single-family (individual)
Semi-detached
Apartment buildings.
Residential apartment buildings according to their space-planning structure they can be divided into:
Sectional;
Corridor;
Gallery;
Corridor and gallery sections;
Blocked.
Based on the materials of load-bearing structures (walls, coverings, columns), residential buildings are divided into:
Stone;
Wooden;
Mixed type.
In stone buildings, the walls can be made of large prefabricated concrete elements (panels, blocks) or small-sized products (brick, ceramic, concrete blocks), natural stones, as well as monolithic ones made of lightweight concrete. The floors are made from prefabricated reinforced concrete panels or reinforced concrete monolithic ones. Residential multi-storey buildings with a height of up to 9 floors must have stone walls, reinforced concrete floors and have fire resistance of class II, and with a height of 10 or more floors - class I. In terms of capital, stone buildings are classified as class I. The durability of this type of building is 100 years.
In wooden residential buildings walls and ceilings can be made of wooden panels; in areas rich in forests, walls can be made of beams and logs, and ceilings can be made of panels on wooden beams. Wooden buildings are classified as IV, V degrees of fire resistance, IV capital class. They can have no more than 1 - 2 floors. The durability of this type of building is 25 years.
In buildings with mixed-type structures, the walls are made of stone and the floors may be wooden. Due to the discrepancy between the durability and performance qualities of walls and ceilings, this type of construction has little application.
high pillar structure
Alternative descriptionsVittoria (1492-1546) Italian poetess
Francesco (Franciscus Columna) (1433-1527) Italian writer, Dominican monk
Architecturally processed vertical support, round in cross-section, element load-bearing structure buildings and architectural orders
In military affairs, a formation in which military personnel are located behind each other’s heads, and units (vehicles) are located one after the other; until the middle of the 19th century. (in the Air Force in the 20th century) column - one of the forms of combat formation of troops (aviation)
Vendôme... erected in honor of the victories of Napoleon Bonaparte
Vertical support
About people, objects located or moving one after another in an elongated line
Support, element of the supporting structure of buildings and architectural orders
Support column in architecture
Formation of demonstrators
Roman family; in the XIV-XVI centuries. played an important role in the political life of Rome, competed with the Orsini family
Formation of military personnel
Military equipment and people moving one after another
. "caravan" of military equipment
Acrobatic figure
Poet, friend of Michelangelo
An ancient Italian surname that played a large role in the medieval history of Rome
Architectural "tetanus"
Architectural riser
French "pillar"
Both a group of demonstrators and a support in the building
. "architectural" structure
Vertical building support
Pillar in front of the main entrance
Pillar as a support for a building
Line of demonstrators
architectural pillar
Parade formation
Architectural support
A line of cars with children
. "fifth...", the name of Nazi agents in various countries
Parade formation of demonstrators
Motor transport company
Parade line of demonstrators
People moving one after another
Architectural pillar serving as a support in a building
Support, element of the supporting structure of buildings and architectural orders
A structure in the form of a high pillar that serves as a support in a building or erected as a monument
Roman feudal family
. "architectural" structure
. "caravan" of military equipment
. "fifth...", the name of Nazi agents in various countries
Architectural "tetanus"
J. lat. pillar, pillar, riser; stand, prop; a lonely column, in the form of a monument, a stall. The decoration of pillars or columns is determined in architecture by orders, the conventional order to which they belong. Horse, foot column, troop squad, detachment. Column of ships, ships, fleet detachment. Column, pillar, pillar. Columnar, with columns, columnar. A colonnade, a whole row of columns, in one order or two, along the street, in the middle. Column leader, an officer tasked with leading a column; this was formerly the name of the cadets of the General Staff
French "pillar"
I think that many of you have seen examples of unusual architectural structures or even been inside such creative buildings. But today we will present to you 21 examples of fantastic architectural structures that simply amaze the imagination and surprise with the originality of the idea.
1. Atomium
The building is located in Brussels. The Atomium was built in 1958 and designed by architect André Waterkeyn. The Atomium rises 102 meters. Externally, the structure looks like an atom. Despite its impressive age, it still looks good; the Atomium was reconstructed from 2004 to 2006. Then aluminum was replaced by steel.
2. Building Barcode
Located in St. Petersburg, Russia. The building is designed in the form of a giant barcode. The black bars of a traditional barcode are replaced with large windows, creating a very realistic look. The building itself is made in red.
3. Foggy building
The misty building, designed by architects Elisabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio, is located on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland. This miracle has dimensions of 60 x 100 x 20 meters, made of metal. Special holes are built into the body, spraying water from the lake around the building.
4. Cybertexture Egg
The Cybertexture Egg is located in Mumbai, India. The surface area is 32,000 sq. m. The egg-shaped structure is the embodiment of environmental design, an intelligent system and a memorable landmark of the city. In addition to its magnificent design, the egg is equipped with the latest technological advances. The facility is capable of monitoring the well-being of employees - measuring their weight and blood pressure. The doctor will be notified of any sudden changes in the well-being of staff.
5. Solar Ark
The Solar Ark is located in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, built by Sanyo. It is one of the most impressive solar power generating buildings in the world. The structure was created as a symbol of a "clean energy community" and houses the Solar Museum inside. The Ark includes 5,046 solar panels and produces approximately 630 kW of power, equivalent to 530,000 kWh of clean energy per year.
6. Basket Building
The Basket Building is located in Ohio, USA. This is the seven-story corporate headquarters of the Longaberger Basket Company. Inside the building there is an atrium that rises up to a glass ceiling through which you can see the basket handles coming together above the roof.
7. Piano House
The Piano House is located in Hui Province, China. The violin functions as an escalator and entrance to the building. Apparently, the building was built by the local government to attract people to developing areas of the country. This building is a perfect example of the harmonious combination of music and architecture.
8. Esplanade
The building is located on six hectares of land next to the Marina Bay promenade near the Singapore River. It plays the role of a local theater and concert hall, the concert hall seats 1,600 people, and the theater seats 2,000.
9. Cube House
The building is a combination of several cubic structures. The architectural composition is located in the Netherlands.
10. Project Eden
The Eden Project is an original structure that attracts many tourists to the United Kingdom every year. At the same time, the structure is the largest greenhouse in the world. Plants from all over the world are collected inside artificial biomes. The project is located 2 km (1.25 miles) from the town of St. Blazey and 5 km (3 miles) from more large city St Austell, Cornwall.
11. Spiral forest
Waldspirale is a residential complex in Darmstadt, Germany, built in 1990. The name translates as wooded spiral and fully reflects the overall plan of the building and the fact that it has a green roof. The architectural structure was designed by the Viennese Hundertwasser artist Friedensreich, the architect M. Springmann Heinz worked on the implementation, and the building was built by the Bauverein company in Darmstadt. Construction of the building was completed in 2000.
12. Robotics
The robot building is located in Sathorn, a business district of Bangkok, Thailand. The headquarters of United Overseas Bank is located here. The building, which looks like a huge robot, symbolizes computerization banking system in the country. The main features of the building include antennas and eyes, they play an important role from both an aesthetic and practical point of view. The building was completed in 1986, it is one of latest examples modern architecture in Bangkok.
13. Atlantis
Atlantis (Dubai) is the majestic center of Palm Jumeirah, an artificial island that captures the imagination of people from all over the world with its unimaginable scale. From the moment you arrive, you are immersed in a dazzling world of style, pleasure and luxury. The resort offers relaxation and thrills for couples and families. Activities include unique boat trips, an exhilarating water park, pristine white beaches, world-class cuisine, a spa and much more.
14. Rotating tower
The rotating tower is also located in Dubai. The floors of this architectural composition will rotate around a central axis. This will be a constant movement and change of shape, which will allow the residents of the house to independently choose the desired landscape outside the window with one click of a button. The structure's architecture provides very high earthquake resistance as each floor rotates independently.
15. Banpo Bridge
Banpo Bridge is located in Seoul, South Korea. It is the world's longest bridge fountain and has set a Guinness World Record with nearly 10,000 LED nozzles that run along both sides of the bridge. Water is sprayed over a distance of 1140 m.
This project is the first of its kind in the world. The bridge has 38 water pumps and 9,380 nozzles on both sides, which pump 190 tons of water per minute from the river at a depth of about 20 meters.
16. Palais Bulles
Bulles Palais is located in Cannes, France. In the early eighties, fashion designer Pierre Cardin wanted to buy a house so he could come to Cannes for the summer. While searching, he came across construction site house designed by architect Antti Lovag for a French industrialist. When the owner died before the Bubble House was completed, Carden bought the half-finished structure, added his own elements and completed the building.
17. Solar oven
The solar oven is located in Odeillo, France. The building is a curved mirror (or array of mirrors) that acts as a parabolic reflector, concentrating light on a focal point. The largest solar oven in the world is located at Odeillo in the Eastern Pyrenees in France, opened in 1970.
18. Park Guell
Park Güell is located in Barcelona, Spain. Park Güell is a garden complex with architectural elements located on the El Carmel hill in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Park Güell is cleverly designed and looks like a scene from a fairy tale. The bright colors and aura of the park are amazing.