5 Iconic Buildings Every Architecture Lover Must Visit
A seasoned explorer will tell you that visiting a destination’s iconic architecture is one of the best ways to learn about its history. While acclaimed museums, immaculate gardens, and a diversified culinary scene provide insight into a location’s culture, it is the one-of-a-kind structures that make up its landscape disclosing a deeper dimension of its history and knowledge of its people. If you are a sea lover and want to visit Australia you should visit Ningaloo Reef! But you need a perfect guide for visiting Ningaloo Reef. Here is Ningaloo Reef guide for you.
Architects, engineers, and regular people have collaborated, for as long as humans have been on this planet, to create buildings and landmarks that have endured the test of time and provide insight into their cultures. Whether traveled in-person or via virtual travel, local landmarks are, in essence, silent witnesses of former times, kingdoms, and tastes, but they may also provide us with insight into the future.
The majority of jet setters will agree that selecting the ideal vacation spot takes a significant amount of time and effort. While distance, airline cost, and local food are all important considerations, architecture fans are likely to favor nations with some of the world’s most renowned structures. Not only do these architectural monuments symbolize a certain period and region’s architectural style, but the strange experience of seeing a highly photographed structure in person is priceless.
Below, feast your eyes on a list of some of the most incredible works of architecture that you’ll definitely want to visit.
Casa Batlló in Barcelona, Spain
Antoni Gaud, one of Catalan Modernism’s most productive architects, was allowed unlimited creative license to restore Josep Batlló’s Barcelona mansion in 1904. The flamboyant exterior was inspired by marine life, with repurposed stone, glass, and ceramics combining to form three separate sections: a skeleton base, a central portion bursting with patterns and color, and a scale-like roof. The loft is one of Casa Batlló’s most unusual areas, with a sequence of 60 catenary arches that resemble an animal’s ribcage.
Acropolis of Athens in Athens, Greece
The Acropolis, which proudly stands over the present city of Athens, provides insights into the ancient world and Greek workmanship. The Parthenon, the most famous example of ancient Greek architecture, was the first in the hill’s sequence of structures. The temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena, was started in 447 B.C. by politician Pericles, who wanted to construct a rich new capital following the Persian war. Pericles commissioned the Propylea, or gateway, shortly after the Parthenon was completed to serve as the city-single state’s entry.
Palace of Westminster in London, England
A fire blasted through the Palace of Westminster in London on October 16, 1834, destroying the seat of the United Kingdom’s parliament. A competition was organized to identify the best architect to design a new complex of grandiose structures that embodied the country’s glory and the origins of democracy.
Highclere Castle was designed by Charles Barry, who won with his concept of a massive Gothic Revival castle with an octagonal central hall and two formidable towers. The new Palace of Westminster was ultimately finished in 1867, after many setbacks and criticism from members of Parliament, and rapidly became a stunning emblem of not just London, but the Commonwealth.
Bosjes Chapel in Worcester, South Africa
Coetzee Steyn of Steyn Studio created an eye-catching chapel deep within South Africa’s wine area that perfectly integrates Cape Dutch architecture with a modern, more sustainable style. The curved cast-concrete shell is inspired by the nearby Waaihoek Mountains and pays homage to the Western Cape’s ancient gables. Steyn carefully buried supporting materials in the plinth and behind the outside corners of the adjoining garden to preserve the structure’s sculptural look sound.
St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, Russia
The bursts of vibrant colors and captivating patterns on St. Basil’s Cathedral’s exterior and domes weren’t always there, believe it or not. In 1554, Ivan the Terrible had a great church built to commemorate his triumphs against the forces of Kazan and Astrakhan. St. Basil’s was originally supposed to be white with gold domes to match the Kremlin’s colors and stone. The cathedral, however, was painted a rainbow of hues approximately a century after it was completed, based on a vivid portrayal of heaven contained in the Book of Revelation.
These 5 iconic buildings are a work of art and a visit in person will definitely get you awestruck. However, all these destinations are equally stunning via virtual travel tours, which is what we’ll have to make do with, in the current global scenario. But, once you’ve experienced them via a live guided tour, you will certainly be inspired to add them to your bucket list.
Happy travels!
