Cool Architecture: 4 Famous Architectural Buildings from Around the World
Introduction While not everyone considers buildings to be a form of art, many consider architecture to be one of the most everyday forms of design and art that we experience on a daily basis. Buildings and architecture define cities: the Space Needle in Seattle, Le Louvre in Paris, the Chrysler Building in New York, St Basil’s Cathedral in Russia… the list goes on. So what are some of the most famous architectural buildings from around the world? What cool architecture defines the city and the people they’re situated in? Keep reading for four of our favorites.
1. DAVID & LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS (LOS ALTOS, CA) This is one of the most modern and new examples on our list. The David & Lucile Packard Foundation is an organization the funds grants and initiatives for a wide variety of nonprofits hoping to make change in the world. In creating their headquarters, they also wanted to represent that desire for growth, change, and doing good for the world with the building itself. As they say on their website, they wanted their headquarters to represent their dedication and long-term commitment to helping the Earth. That’s why they took commercial energy efficiency to a new level when creating this space. It is in fact one of the most sustainable and energy efficient buildings in the world. It’s made of 95 percent recycled materials from other deconstructed buildings and recycling projects. It is a certified LEED platinum building, which means it has the highest certification a green building can receive. It’s also a Net Zero building meaning it uses only as much energy as it produces each year, getting all of its power from its over 900 solar panels on the roof. All of this is combined with a sleek and modern architecture style made with certified sustainable wood, native plants, and a living green roof that makes it an awesome building to look at and work in. The building also provides its own plumbing and irrigation water using gutter and rainwater collection.
2. The Dancing House (Prague) The Dancing House, built from 1994-1996 and designed by Czech architect Vlado Milunić and Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, is a bendy and surrealist looking building in Prague. It’s in a historical landmark on the riverwalk in Prague and it’s believed that it’s situated in the spot where the US bombed Prague during World War II. It’s most well-known because if its bendy and unusual shape. In architecture-speak, it’s in the deconstructivist style. The designers made it with the inspiration of two dancers coming together, hence the name. It also plays with the idea of balance and yin and yang. This building has come to represent Prague and even appears on one of Prague’s coins. The building includes offices and a luxury hotel and won Time’s 1997 design award.
3. The Colosseum (Rome) Getting a bit more historical as the list goes on, we come to The Colosseum. The Colosseum is ancient Roman architecture at its finest. Building started in 75 AD and finished around 80 AD it was initially commissioned by Emperor Flavian in 70 AD. Known at the time as the Flavian Amphitheater, it was mostly used for games and shows that included gladiator fights and wild animal shows/fights as well. It was actively used by Romans until around the 18th century when it was partially used for building materials for other architectural buildings. It’s estimated that only about ⅓ of the building stand as it once did when it was first erected. Archeologists have studied this cool architecture and amphitheater for years and believe that at one point it had seating for 50,000 spectators, water fountains, latrines, awnings, and even mock naval battles where the floor would be flooded with water.
4. Burj Khalifa (Dubai) The Burj Khalifa brings us back to modern day with building completed in 2009. It’s the tallest skyscraper in the world at 2,722 feet tall. It took five years to complete construction and is now the pride and joy of Dubai where it resides. With a style described as neo-futuristic and resembles the other architectural designs done by the same company like the Sears Tower and One World Trade Center. This building has a number of uses and includes an observation deck on the 124th floor, corporate suites, a sky lobby, the Armani Hotel, and more. Because of its height, it’s a magnet for BASE jumping. While BASE jumping is illegal off of this building on your own, they do have a service that allows you to pay and legally jump off of the top of the world’s tallest building. This building has won numerous awards for its design and construction, and it currently holds a number of world records including world’s highest nightclub on the 144th floor and the world’s highest restaurant on the 122nd floor.
Sources https://www.packard.org/about-the-foundation/ourgreen-headquarters/ https://comelectrical.com/service/energy-efficiency/ https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/cz/Do cuments/realestate/Iconic_Buildings_Dancing_House_Smart_15sprin g.pdf https://www.history.com/topics/ancienthistory/colosseum http://xdubai.com/dreamjump-dubai/ https://www.dubainight.com/dubai/armani-prive/nightclub-armani-prive-dubai,2,0,12287.html https://www.emirates247.com/lifestyle/and-the-world-shighest-restaurant-is-ready-to-serve-2011-01-20-1.343732
