ARCHITECTURE
The art and science of designing buildings and other structures is known as architecture. From early times, people designed buildings both for practical reasons, such as shelters to live in, and religious reasons, such as stone tombs and places to worship the gods. Over the centuries, architecture has evolved to become an art form using high-quality materials to create ever more daring designs.
- THE COLOSSEUM
The first permanent amphitheatre in Rome, the Colosseum was completed in 80 CE. It is amazing not only for its size but also for its design. Up to 50,000 spectators poured safely in and out of 80 doors to watch all-day gladiator battles and other public spectacles.
- HEDDAL STAVKIRKE
As 12th century Norwegians turned away from Viking beliefs to follow Christianity, they built a thousand beautiful wooden stave churches along trade routes in Norway. Carvings of animals often decorated the door frames.
- KUNSTHAUS GRAZ
Nicknamed “the friendly alien” by locals, this Austrian art museum, completed in 2003, has a blue outer skin of acrylic glass that can display images and animations. Inside, two large spaces can be adapted to display different exhibitions.
- DISNEY CONCERT HALL
This striking home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra took 16 years to complete from design to opening night in 2003. Its striking exterior is made of stainless steel curves. The wood- panelled main auditorium features state-of-the-art acoustics.
- CHRYSLER BUILDING
This 1920s skyscraper in New York City remains the tallest brick building in the world at 319 m (1,047 ft). It was designed to house the Chrysler automobile company, and the gargoyles that jut from the building were designed like car mascots.
- REICHSTAG
This building housed the German Republic parliament from 1894 until it burned down in 1933. When Germany reunited in 1990, the Bundestag (the new parliament) returned to Berlin. The original building was gutted and a new home built inside the old walls.
- DJENNE MOSQUE
The largest mud-brick building in the world, the present mosque in Mali dates from 1909. The thick walls are coated with a smooth layer of plaster-like mud to even out the surface. Palm-wood supports help people scale the walls to repair them each spring.
- BURJ KHALIFA
Designed to resemble a desert flower, Hymenocallis, this 828-m (2,716.5-ft) super-scraper in Dubai is the tallest building in the world. The Burj Khalifa has more than 160 storeys and the world’s highest outdoor observation deck. The structure is three times as tall as the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
- EL PALAU DE LES ARTS
This Spanish opera house is part of a complex of museum buildings near Valencia. It is set within landscaped gardens with reflecting pools and interlinked paths. The roof is made from a pair of curving steel shells clad in concrete and mosaic tiles.
- ALLIANZ ARENA
This football arena is located in Munich, Germany, and is the only stadium in the world that can change its exterior colour. Opened in 2005, the stadium holds nearly 70,000 spectators. Some locals nicknamed it the “inflatable boat” due to its unusual shape.
Picture Credit : Google
