A building tells you a story if you are ready to hear it. The cultural habits of a society, the aesthetic understanding of a period, the changes in functional attributes in time, the lifestyles of people, the technological possibilities at hand… You can have an idea about all these points by looking at a building. Architecture has always been at the core of the development of civilizations. Hence, it is possible to see magnificent examples of extraordinary buildings all around the world.We compiled the stories of some prominent buildings that became iconic in their cities. Let’s embark on a joyful journey together!
Sagrada Familia, Barselona
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Sagrada Familia, meaning Holy Family in Spanish, is an enormous basilica located in Barcelona. Antoni Gaudi started its construction in 1882. However, it has been continuing even today for 138 years. This unfortunate building bore witness to and was influenced by the Spanish historical events as well as the different opinions of architects and people on the future of the construction. The current crew plans to complete it in 2026, the centenary of Gaudi’s death.
Notre Dame, Paris
Notre-Dame de Paris, meaning Our Lady of Paris, is an almost 700-year-old cathedral in France, built between 1163-1345. In April 2019, the fire that started on the roof severely damaged the cathedral. Currently, this beautiful building is under renovation that will end in 2024.
Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku
Heydar Aliyev Center is a gigantic building located in Baku. Prior to the construction, the Azerbaijan government organized an architectural contest in 2007, which was won by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid. Consequently, he became entitled to design the new cultural center of the country. Heydar Aliyev Center became one of the most impressive buildings in the world with its futuristic design.
Harpa Concert Hall, Reykjavik
Harpa is a concert hall and a cultural center in Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland. The façade of the building is composed of geometrically-shaped glass panels. While Harpa has been home to numerous concerts and cultural events, it also offers a beautiful view thanks to the light refracted by these panels.
The Forbidden City, Beijing
The Forbidden City is a monumental palace complex, encompassing many separate buildings and constructed between 1406-1420. It has been the governmental center of the Empire of China for approximately 500 years. It was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. Each year, almost 16 million people visit this never-ending and once-forbidden city to see how Chinese emperors lived and ruled.
The Dancing House, Prague
The Dancing House is a modern example of baroque architecture. It resembles two dancing people together. After its increasing popularity among tourists, it started to appear on 2000 Czech Koruna coins.
The Great Mosque of Djenne, Djenne
The Great Mosque of Djenne has been a significant landmark in Africa since its construction in the 13th century. However, it went through enormous changes in structure and outlook until it took its final form in 1907. The influence of the inspiration by the French architecture is pretty visible all around the building.
The Lotus Temple, New Delhi
The Lotus Temple in New Delhi was built as a spiritual place for the Baháʼí religion. Its name reflects the look that resembles a waterlily with 27 structures joining together. Thanks to its 2500-guest capacity, people can enter through one of nine doors and enjoy this peaceful place.
Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem
Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest places in Islam, was constructed as an octagon-shaped mosque in the 7th century. In a short while, it became a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Suleyman the Magnificent made the building renovated during his period with the addition of mosaics and marbles.
La Pedrera, Barselona
Antoni Gaudi tarafından art nouveau mimarisiyle inşa edilen bu sıradışı yapı demir balkonları ve denizin dalgalarını andıran harmonik dış yüzeyiyle dikkat çekmiştir. 1984’ten beri UNESCO dünya mirası listesindedir.
Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur
451.9-meter-height twin towers, as an example of postmodern architecture, are an indispensable part of the Malaysian sky. Between 1998-2004, these gigantic towers had been the tallest building in the world.
Pisa Tower, Pisa
Leaning Tower of Pisa has world-wide popularity with its approximately four-degree lean. The architect Bonanno Pisano designed and constructed the tower in 1173. However, since the ground is not very firm, it could not stay in an upright position.
The Empire State Building, New York
The most famous skyscraper in the United States of America, the Empire State Building, has been one of the most important landmarks in New York since its construction in 1931. The building reflects art deco style architecture and homes to a phenomenal city view.
The Colosseum, Roma
The Colosseum stands at the heart of Roma for almost two centuries like a wise and old man who witnessed almost all modern history. It was an arena for gladiator fights and inspired today’s modern stadiums profoundly.
Taj Mahal, Agra
The beloved wife of Shah Jahan passes on when she is in labor. This loss deeply hurts this all-mighty yet very helpless ruler. Shah Jahan finds his remedy in building a marvelous mausoleum for his deceased wife. Thereby, the Taj Mahal emerges between 1632-1643. The building, exemplifying Mughal architecture, flawlessly reflects the combination of Persian, Turkish, and Indian styles.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
Hagia Sophia, built between 532-537 as a cathedral, is a representative example of Byzantian architecture. Although fires and natural disasters damage the building many times, it was renovated and reconstructed in each case. Today, Hagia Sophia is open to worship as a mosque.
Burj Khalifa, Dubai
Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building since 2009, occupies the sky of the United Arab Emirates with its majestic and colossal look. It includes 2909 stairs from the ground to the top 160th floor.
Buildings and architecture give a person the great pleasure of learning about history and the people. We hope that you can find a chance to visit all these structures one day.