The Atomium | Belgium
The Atomium is a building in Brussels originally constructed for Expo 58, the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. Designed by the engineer André Watermen and architects André and Jean Polak, it stands 102 m tall.The Atomium is a 102m model of an iron crystal cell, with five of the ‘atoms’ visitable and featuring exhibit halls or in the case of the highest sphere a panoramic view of Brussels. To move between these spaces, visitors travel in escalators within the structure.
It is Built for the Brussels World's Fair in 1958, the Atomium was only supposed to last for 6 months, but such was its popularity, that it quickly became a major part of the Brussels landscape.CNN named it the most bizarre building in Europeand its crazy retro-futurism really does has to be seen to be believed.
The Giza Pyramids
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. They were built as tombs for three separate pharaohs during the Third and Fourth Dynasty. Despite their long history, or perhaps because of it, mysteries have swirled around the pyramids since they were found by the Ancient Greeks thousands of years ago. How were they built? How many people worked on the project? How long did the construction take?
The Giza pyramids were erected on a rocky plateau on the west bank of the Nile in northern Egypt and were connected, by covered causeways, to mortuary temples in the valley below the plateau.
Taj Mahal, India
Taj Mahal is an architectural marvel made of white marble situated at the banks of river Yamuna in Agra, India. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore called the Taj Mahal “a tear drop on the cheek of time.”
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan had the Taj Mahal built in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, whom he held precious. Mumtaz Mahal was giving birth to the fourteenth child of the emperor, and she died in the process. This was in 1631. Construction began one year after her death in 1632 and the mausoleum was completed in 1648 with the surrounding buildings and gardens taking another five years to complete. The construction took 20,000 workers and craftsmen that were recruited from all across northern India.
Around 8 million tourists visit The Taj Mahal every year. The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The building was designed by Adrian Smith and the construction began in 2004 and was completed in 2009.This 829.8 m skyscraper in Dubai is the tallest structure in the world and one of the most iconic buildings of the world. The decision to build the building is reportedly based on the government's decision to diversify from an oil-based economy, and for Dubai to gain international recognition. The building broke numerous height records, including its designation as the tallest tower in the world.
The very tip of the spire of Burj Khalifa can be seen from up to 95 kms away, making it a wondrous sight for those flying in to Dubai. the building has received many awards. Height of the tower from Level 124 to the spire more than the height of Eiffel Tower. The total weight of aluminum used in the building of Burj Khalifa is equivalent to that of five A380 aircraft and the total length of stainless steel bullnose fins is 293 times the height of the Eiffel Tower.
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) bestowed the 'Global Icon' award on Burj Khalifa in 2010.
Cathedral of Brasilia
The Cathedral of Brasília is the Roman Catholic cathedral serving Brasília, Brazil, and serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Brasília. It was designed by Oscar Niemeyer. The Cathedral of Brasilia is a masterpiece of modern religious art in Brasília, Brazil. The construction started on September 15, 1958 and the structure was finished on April 21, 1960.The cathedral has a striking hyperbolic structure constructed from 16 concrete columns, weighing 90 tons each.
It was declared a national historic and artistic monument on July 15, 1990. Visitors enter into the cathedral through a dark tunnel and emerge into a bright space with a glass roof.it is perhaps one of the most iconic buildings of the world.
Empire State Building, Manhattan, New York City
The Empire State Building is a 102-story skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on Fifth Avenue between West 33rd and 34th Streets. it stands a total of 1,454 feet (443 m) high. It stood as the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years, from its completion in early 1931.The Empire State Building is currently the fifth-tallest completed skyscraper in the United States and the 29th-tallest in the world. The Empire State Building is an American cultural icon. It is designed in the distinctive Art Deco style and has been named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. no film or television show set in New York is complete without including a shot of the grand Art Deco skyscraper.
The Empire State Building was designed by William F. Lamb, based on the designs for the Reynolds Building in Winston-Salem North Carolina and the Carew Tower in Cincinnati Ohio.
Sydney Opera House, Australia
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney, Australia. It is one of the 20th century's most famous and distinctive buildings. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the building was formally opened on 20 October 1973
Beautiful against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour, the iconic Sydney Opera House is a thriving hub of art, culture and history. It's one of the world's most distinctive buildings, attracting millions of visitors from all over the world. The Sydney Opera House Tour will give you an introduction to the history behind this building, as well as showcasing all the theatre spaces where over 1,600 performances happen every year.
Eiffel Tower, Paris France
This iron lattice tower is 324 meters tall and weighs 10,100 tons. It is the most visited monument of the world with over 7 million people visiting it every year. It was built in 1889 in Paris was the product of two engineers Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier.It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. He was also the engineer and architect behind the tower.
The tower is 324 meters (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building, and the tallest structure in Paris. The tower has three levels for visitors, with restaurants on the first and second levels. The top level's upper platform is 276 m (906 ft) above the ground. Today, the Eiffel Tower, which continues to serve an important role in television and radio broadcasts, is considered an architectural wonder and attracts more visitors than any other paid tourist attraction in the world.
The Burj Al Arab, Dubai
The Burj Al Arab was designed by Tom Wright and built by Atkins for Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts. It is currently the second largest hotel in the world. It was built in 1994 and is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. This luxury hotel is a 5-minute walk from Wild Wadi Water Park and 4 km from Mall of the Emirates.
Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) from Jumeirah beach and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. The shape of the structure is designed to mimic the sail of a ship. The hotel is located on an island of reclaimed land 280 meters offshore of the beach of the former Chicago Beach Hotel. The distinctive sail-shaped silhouette of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is more than just a stunning hotel, it is a symbol of modern Dubai.
The Kaaba, Mecca, al-Hejaz, Saudi Arabia.
The Kaaba is the most sacred Muslim pilgrimage site in the world. It's a , pre-Islamic monument, rededicated by Muhammad in 631-32 C.E., multiple renovations, granite masonry, covered with silk curtain and calligraphy in gold and silver-wrapped thread.
All Muslims aspire to undertake the hajj, or the annual pilgrimage, to the Kaaba once in their lives if they are able. Prayer five times a day and the hajj are two of the five pillars of Islam, the most fundamental principles of the faith. Today, the Kaaba is a cubical structure, unlike almost any other religious structure. It is fifteen meters tall and ten and a half meters on each side; its corners roughly align with the cardinal directions. The door of the Kaaba is now made of solid gold.
The Colosseum, Rome, Italy
The Colosseum is one of the greatest architectural feats ever achieved by the Ancient Romans. The Colosseum or Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an oval amphitheatre in the Centre of the city of Rome, Italy. Built of concrete and sand, it is the largest amphitheater ever built. Construction began under the emperor Vespasian in AD 72, and was completed in AD 80 under his successor and heir Titus
The Colosseum is located just east of the Roman Forum and was built to a practical design, with its 80 arched entrances allowing easy access to 55,000 spectators, who were seated according to rank. The Coliseum is huge, an ellipse 188m long and 156 wide. Originally 240 masts were attached to stone corbels on the 4th level. The Colosseum was the largest amphitheater in the Roman world. Unlike many earlier amphitheaters, which had been dug into hillsides to provide adequate support, the Colosseum was a freestanding structure made of stone and concrete.
Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang, North Korea
The Ryugyong Hotel is an unfinished 105-story pyramid-shaped skyscraper in Pyongyang, North Korea. Its name is also one of the historical names for Pyongyang. The building is also known as the 105 Building, a reference to its number of floors. The Ryugyong Hotel has a height of 330 metres (1,080 ft),[8] making it the most prominent feature of Pyongyang's skyline and by far the tallest structure in North Korea.
The building’s conception is attributed to Kim Il Sung, the supreme leader of the country since its establishment in 1948 until his death in 1994. Apparently he wanted to build an iconic and record-breaking building to showcase his country’s power. The building consists of three wings, each measuring 100 meters (330 ft) long, 18 metres (59 ft) wide, and sloped at a 75-degree angle, which converge at a common point to form a pinnacle. According to Orascom's Khaled Bichara in 2009, the Ryugyong will not be just a hotel, but rather a mixed-use development, including "revolving restaurant" facilities along with a "mixture of hotel accommodation, apartments and business facilities".
Tower of Pisa,
The Leaning Tower of Pisa or simply the Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa, known worldwide for its unintended tilt.Its fame and power grew gradually over the years.
The Pisans attacked the city of Palermo on the island of Sicily in 1063. The attack was successful and the conquerors returned to Pisa with a great deal of treasure. To show the world just how important the city was, the people of Pisa decided to build a great cathedral complex, the Field of Miracles. The plan included a cathedral, a baptistery, a bell tower (the Tower of Pisa) and a cemetery.
The real identity of Tower of Pisa’s architects is a mystery. The most accredited architects of this first phase of work are Bonanno Pisano and Gherardo din Gherardo. The second phase of construction started in 1275, and the work is attributed to Giovani di Simone. Tommaso Pisano (1350-1372) was the architect who finished the work.
