Top 10 most beautiful buildings in the world

Many buildings are similar to each other, because they are created according to the same type of projects with the same design and differ only in colors and sizes. This does not mean that all buildings are like that, there are really beautiful, creative projects. Often, innovative architectural and technical solutions are used in the construction of such structures. Often, these beautiful creations are libraries, theaters, hotels, museums or temples. In most cases, non-standard architectural objects become the main attractions of the cities in which they are located. To show how extraordinary some buildings can be, we have prepared a ranking of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

10 Sagrada Familia | Barcelona, ​​Spain

The construction of this Catholic church began in 1882 in Barcelona. The construction is carried out only on donations from parishioners. The Sagrada Familia was designed by renowned architect Antonio Gaudí. The entire architectural design of the building, both external and internal, consists of strict geometric shapes: windows and stained-glass windows in the form of ellipses, helicoidal stair structures, stars formed by intersecting surfaces, etc. This temple is a long-term construction, only in 2010 it was consecrated and declared ready for church services, and the full completion of construction work is planned no earlier than 2026.

9. Sydney Opera House | Sydney, Australia

This magnificent architectural structure is located in the capital of Australia – Sydney, and is one of the most famous and recognizable buildings in the world, as well as the main attraction and pride of the country. An important feature of this beautiful building, which distinguishes it from others, is the sail-shaped roof structure (consisting of 1 tiles). The main designer of this innovative building was the Danish architect Jorn Utzon, who received the Pritzker Prize for it (similar to the Nobel Prize in architecture).

8. Opera and Ballet Theater | Oslo, Norway

The Norwegian Opera and Ballet Theater is located in the central part of Oslo, on the shore of the bay. The roof consists of planes located in such a way that anyone can climb it from the base, which goes a little into the water, to the highest point of the building, from where a magnificent view of the city surroundings opens. It is worth mentioning that this theater was awarded the Mies van der Rohe award as the best architectural structure in 2009.

7. Taj Mahal | Agra, India

This amazing building is located in the city of Agra, India. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum built by order of Padishah Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, who died in childbirth. In the architectural appearance of the building, a fusion of several styles can be traced: Persian, Muslim and Indian. The construction, which lasted from 1632 to 1653, was attended by about 22 thousand craftsmen and artisans from different parts of the empire. The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and has been called the “Pearl of Muslim Architecture”. It is also included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

6. Ideal palace of Ferdinand Cheval | Hauterives, France

The Ferdinand Cheval Palace is located in the French city of Hauterives. Its creator was the most ordinary postman. When building his “ideal palace”, Ferdinand Cheval used the simplest tools. As materials, he used wire, cement and stones of an unusual shape, which he collected for 20 years on the roads in the vicinity of the city. This beautiful and unusual building is a prime example of naive art (an offshoot of the primitivism style). In 1975, the palace of Ferdinand Cheval was officially recognized by the French government as a monument of culture and history.

5. New Library of Alexandria | Alexandria, Egypt

The library is located in the city of Alexandria and is the main cultural center of Egypt. It was opened in the 3rd century BC. Subsequently, as a result of various military conflicts, the building was destroyed and burned. In 2002, a new “Library of Alexandrina” was erected in its place. Many countries took part in financing the construction: Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the USA and 26 other countries. The architectural appearance of the building of the new Library of Alexandria is a kind of solar disk, thus symbolizing the cult of the sun, which was widespread earlier.

4. Golden Temple Harmandir Sahib | Amritsar, India

The Golden Temple is the central temple (gurdwara) for the religious ceremonies of the Sikh community. This magnificent architectural structure is located in the Indian city of Amritsar. The decoration of the building is made using gold, which emphasizes its majesty and luxury. The temple is located in the center of the lake, the water in which is considered healing, according to legend, it is an elixir of immortality.

3. Guggenheim Museum of Contemporary Art | Bilbao, Spain

Immediately after opening in 1977, the building was recognized as the most beautiful and spectacular architectural structure made in the style of deconstructivism. The museum building has smooth lines that give it a futuristic look. In general, the whole structure resembles an abstract ship. A feature is not only its unusual appearance, but also the design itself – the lining is made of titanium plates according to the principle of fish scales.

2. White Temple | Chiang Rai, Thailand

Wat Rong Khun is a Buddhist temple, its other common name is “White Temple”. This architectural creation is located in Thailand. The design of the building was developed by the artist Chalermchayu Kositpipat. The temple is made in a manner uncharacteristic of Buddhism – using a large amount of white materials. Inside the building there are many colorful paintings on the walls, and outside you can see quite unusual and interesting sculptures.

1. Hotel Burj Al Arab | Dubai, UAE

Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel in Dubai. In appearance, the building resembles the sail of a traditional Arab ship – a dhow. “Arab Tower”, located in the sea and connected to the land by a bridge. The height is 321 m, which makes it the second highest hotel in the world (the first place is the hotel in Dubai “Rose Tower” – 333 m). The interior decoration of the building is made using gold leaf. A characteristic feature of the Burj Al Arab is the huge windows, including in the rooms (on the entire wall).

Engineering Ideas: Documentary Video from National Geographic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqFoKeSLkGM