The world is full of impressive structures that push the limits of human intelligence and engineering abilities. Every day, with the advancement of technology and creativity, new and dazzling structures continue to rise around the world. These structures offer unforgettable experiences to visitors by reflecting the cultural and historical heritage as well as architectural inspiration. Some of the impressive structures around the world are;
Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum
Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum; It is an art museum located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and designed by the famous architect Jean Nouvel. Louvre Abu Dhabi, which was decided to be built as a result of the agreement signed between the French government and the city of Abu Dhabi and valid for 30 years, was built on an area of approximately 24,000 square meters on the Saadiyat Island complex. The cost of the museum is estimated between 83 and 108 million euros. The museum, which was officially opened to visitors on November 8, 2017, was introduced with a magnificent opening.
According to the project officials, the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum will host a variety of artworks from around the world and its main purpose is to bring together Eastern and Western art by creating a bridge. However, the issue of how the Louvre Museum in Paris benefited from this agreement has led to intense debates in the art world.
Lakhta Center
Lakhta Center; It is an 87-storey skyscraper project located in the northwest neighborhood of Lakhta in Saint Petersburg, Russia. At 462 meters (1,516 ft), it is the tallest building in Russia, the tallest building in Europe and the sixteenth tallest building in the world. It is also the second tallest twisted building in the world and the northernmost skyscraper, after the Ostankino Tower in Moscow, after the second tallest structure in Russia and Europe.
Construction of Lakhta Center started on October 30, 2012 and the building was completed on January 29, 2018. On October 5, 2017, it was awarded the title of the tallest building in Russia and Europe, surpassing the Vostok Tower of the Federation Towers in Moscow. It is designed as a large-scale mixed-use project consisting of public facilities and offices. The project, originally designed by the British architectural firm RMJM, was later continued by Turkish Rönesans Holding under Gorproject (2011–2017).
On December 24, 2018, Lakhta Center received LEED Platinum certification according to ecological efficiency criteria. In August 2021, Gazprom’s former headquarters were moved from Moscow to the Lakhta Center in Saint Petersburg, and the company’s new address is the Lakhta Center Multifunctional Complex.
Atomium
Atomium; It is a building located in Brussels, Belgium and designed by André Waterkeyn. This structure is one of the creative and symbolic examples of modern architecture and is known for its design in the form of a giant atomic model.
Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands; It is an integrated resort, one of Singapore’s most recognizable landmarks. This project is known for a large horizontal platform connecting three tall towers. Marina Bay Sands was designed by Moshe Safdie and is considered one of the pioneers of modern architecture.
Heydar Aliyev Center
Heydar Aliyev Center; It is a cultural and convention center located in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, and designed by Zaha Hadid. Heydar Aliyev Center is considered an important example of modern architecture in Azerbaijan.
Jeddah Tower
Jeddah Tower; It is a skyscraper project built to the north of the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The tower is also formerly known as the Royal Tower. This skyscraper aims to be the first building in the world to exceed 1 kilometer in height. In January 2018, construction was suspended when approximately one-third of the skyscraper was completed. However, construction resumed in 2020.
The tower was designed by American architect Adrian Smith and developed under the leadership of Saudi Arabian prince Al Walid Bin Talal. The skyscraper bears the signature of Smith, who is also the designer of the Burj Khalifa. Drawing attention with its creative structural and aesthetic features, Jeddah Tower stands out as a pioneer of modern architecture. These structures, which combine modern urbanism and aesthetic design, are among the iconic skyscrapers of the 21st century.
KAPSARC
KAPSARC; KAPSARC, located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is a center dedicated to energy and sustainability research. With its cupola-shaped roof and modern architecture, it conveys an important message not only in terms of aesthetics but also in terms of sustainability.
La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) is a basilica in Barcelona, Spain, designed by Antoni Gaudi, one of the pioneers of modern architecture. Gaudi took over the project in 1883, but the basilica was left unfinished when he died in a tram accident in 1926.
The construction of the basilica, which was completed by 15-25% until Gaudi’s death, still continues. It is also known as the “endless church” among the people. The construction process, which began in 1882 with the help of the public, was slow due to Gaudi’s complex architectural style and the difficulty of adapting the building’s drawings to today’s technology. The church, which is expected to be completed between 2026 and 2028, is being built with the contributions of benefactors.
The columns supporting the internal structure of the basilica are designed in the form of branching trees, and when you enter, you feel like you are wandering in the forest. Declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984 as part of the “Works of Antoni Gaudí”, this building is visited by an average of 4.5 million visitors a year. It stands out as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Barcelona.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao; It is an art museum located in Bilbao, Spain and designed by Frank Gehry. The museum building represents a futuristic and organic design and is considered one of the pioneers of modern architecture.
Burj Khalifa Skyscraper
Burj Khalifa; It is a building located in Dubai, known as the tallest skyscraper in the world. The old name of this skyscraper, whose construction was completed on January 4, 2010, is Burc Dubai. It is named after the President of the United Arab Emirates, Caliph bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
This skyscraper, which has remarkable architectural features, has a height of 828 meters and 160 usable floors. The floors after the 150th floor of the building have steel structures. This is the first building in the world to continue with a steel construction on a reinforced concrete structure. In addition, the façade of the building has an uneven design to minimize wind loads. Its corners are not sharp, but are formed with circular joints.
Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House; It is a monument designed by Jørn Utzon in Sydney, Australia. The shell-shaped design of this iconic building is one of the extraordinary examples of modern architecture and is a recognized symbol around the world.
Central Radio and Television Tower
Central Radio and Television Tower in Beijing; It is a television tower located in the capital of China with a height of 405 meters. Completed in 1992, this tower is considered the ninth tallest tower in the world. The tower offers visitors a panoramic view of the city with its revolving restaurant and observation platform at 238 meters. This tower, which is also a member of the World Federation of Great Towers, is a symbol of modern architecture and communication technology.
Milwaukee Art Museum
Milwaukee Art Museum; It is an art museum located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA and designed by Santiago Calatrava. This building stands out with its unique and vibrant design and is considered one of the examples of modern architecture.
King Power Mahanakhon
King Power Mahanakhon; It is a mixed-use skyscraper formerly known as MahaNakhon and is located in the central business district of Silom/Sathon, in the Thai capital, Bangkok. It was opened in December 2016 by MahaNakhon General Manager Kipsan Beck. The striking feature of this skyscraper is the unusual appearance of a square tower with a cuboid surface spiral and a glass curtain wall.
It was recognized as Thailand’s tallest building by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) on May 4, 2016, after the transfer of the first residential units, which reached 314.2 meters (1,031 ft) high and 77 floors, was completed in April 2016. King Power Mahanakhon is home to hotel, retail and residential areas.
Elbphilharmonie
Elbphilharmonie; Also known as Elphi for short, it is a private concert hall located on a peninsula on the River Elbe in Hamburg, Germany. It is considered one of the largest and most acoustically advanced concert halls in the world, and stands out as the tallest building in Hamburg city center with its height of 108 meters.
Built on the brick warehouse Kaispeicher A, completed in 1963, the Elbphilharmonie was designed by the architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron. Its official opening took place on 11 January 2017 with a concert by the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. In addition to the concert hall, this special structure also includes a hotel, luxury apartments and public spaces.
V&A Dundee
V&A Dundee is a design museum opened on 15 September 2018 in Dundee, Scotland. This museum is Scotland’s first design museum as well as the first Victoria and Albert Museum to be located outside of London. It is also the first building designed by Kengo Kuma in V&A Dundee, UK.
Petronas Twin Towers
Petronas Twin Towers; They are world-famous twin skyscrapers designed by Cesar Pelli in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. These towers represent one of the most impressive examples of modern architecture in terms of height and aesthetics.
Cubic Houses
One of the examples of the Post-Industrial Architecture movement, ‘Cubic Houses’ is located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. More specifically, these structures are located in the Rotterdam Blaak district. This interesting and eye-catching design was created by Piet Blom and each unit of the building is cube-shaped, rotating on its axis at an angle of 45 degrees, creating an unusual shape.
