Architecture to inspire you
Does architecture inspire you? Does it make you want to stop, look up and reflect on the time it has taken to construct this work of art?
Some of the most amazing architecture in the world has been created from a simple drawing and turned into a piece of art that will stand still. It is not like a painting hung on a wall that can be moved around. It is a still 3D image that can be admired by millions of people.
The Dancing House, Prague.
Famously nicknamed The Dancing House, Prague’s Nationale Nederlanden Building was designed by two architects. Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić in cooperation with Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry.
The very non-traditional design was controversial at the time because the house stands out among the Baroque, Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings for which Prague is famous. The style the dancing house has taken is known as deconstructivist architecture due to its unusual shape. The “dancing” shape is supported by 99 concrete panels, each a different shape and dimension.
Lotus Temple, New Delhi
Situated in New Delhi, The Lotus Temple welcomes worshippers of all faiths. Giving it the status of the most visited building in the world, attracting 100 million people per year. The building was completed in 1986 and consists of 9 sides, 9 doors and a central hall, 40m high to accommodate 2,500 people at once.
It is called The Lotus Temple, quite simply because it is shaped like a Lotus Flower, consisting of 27 structures which resemble each individual petal.
Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur
The Petronas Towers stand at 451.9 meters tall, they once held the title of being the tallest buildings in the world, from 1998 – 2004 and remain the tallest twin towers in the world. Construction started in 1993 and cost $1.6 billion dollars to complete. The twin towers were built on the site of Kuala Lumpur’s race track and have 88 floors.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
Building work began in 1173 and went on for a further 199 years before completion in 1372. Construction of the tower occurred in three stages over 199 years. Work on the ground floor of the white marble campanile began on August 14, 1173, during a period of military success and prosperity. This ground floor is a blind arcade articulated by engaged columns with classical Corinthian capitals. The tower began to sink after construction had progressed to the second floor in 1178. This was due to a mere three-metre foundation, set in weak, unstable subsoil, a design that was flawed from the beginning. Construction was subsequently halted for almost a century.
The Shard, London
If you are ever visiting London, then you will definitely not miss the shard as it is the tallest building in the UK. The Shard’s construction began in March 2009 and was eventually topped out on 30 March 2012, with it being inaugurated on 5 July 2012. 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 244 metres. The project’s architect designed The Shard as a spire-like sculpture emerging from the Thames.
Does Architecture inspire you? What is your favourite building in the world? Let us know and tweet as @highfieldrec