What piece of architecture takes your breath away?

Question

I'm always amazed when I walk through aincient churches and castles.The tools they had way back are nothing compared to what we have now.Yet the modern building we see erected now are not as impressive to me.Is there an old or modern building that you think is incredible?

Answer 1

Several, actually. I love the ancient churches and castles, too.

One piece of architecture that took my breath away was the oldest Mayan ruin at Chichen Itza (not the popular restored pyramid), but one that lay as it had weathered.
I had the feeling of being in the presence of some ancient mystery. It was overwhelming.

Many of the skyscrapers of Osaka, Japan, also are incredible pieces of architecture to me--sleek, modern,
and I suppose it's the sheer number in such a small area, relatively speaking that is overwhelming. One has two towers and covered walkway between that spans an entire street only it very high.

The Guggenheim in New York, Blenheim and it's estates (landscape architecture), and St. Paul's in London are also right up there. In Japan, Katsura Rikyu (the villa of shogun) in Kyoto, and Himeji Castle (called the white
heron for the way it soars above the plain and town. It is original--where most castles in Japan have been restored.
It's the crown jewel of Japanese castles and beautiful from without and incredible from within for it's defense system and size and the use of stone and wood.

It's fun thinking about this stuff, isn't it?

Maggie

Answer 2

As a person who works in the field of construction, the most awe-inspiring and beautiful work to me is the Pantheon in Rome. Built around 125 A.D, it was the largest dome ever constructed until the 20th century. It used modular construction, and is made out of concrete (the cement used in its construction is portland cement, which is the sturdiest and most common construction material in the world, only rediscovered in 1824.) The fact that they built this building, which is vastly complex even by modern standards, without the use of modern technology such as computers or machinery, stands as a testament to the prowess and grandeur of the Roman civilization.

Perhaps on a more functional level, however, the work that I have the most respect for are the aqueducts of Rome. Using only the force of gravity, Romans transported water over hundreds of miles into the city, which provided drinking water (for all 3 million inhabitants), hot and cold running water for homes, numerous warm, tepid, and cool baths, and had enough surplus water to fuel vast, elaborate fountains. Citizens living around the aqueduct used to siphon water from the main line into their homes as an extra water source, and still, there wasn't any noticeable drain on the system. There are more beautiful buildings that were made, but the humble aqueducts are unique for their unrivaled functionality, which lead to the largest city the west had ever seen, and ever would see until the modern era.

Answer 3

The Cologne Cathedral in Koln - Germany
Neuschenstein Castle in Bavaria - Germany
Macchu Picchu near Cuzco - Peru
La Sagrada Familia (Gaudi) Barcelona - Spain
Alhambra - Granada - Spain
Colosseum - Rome
Eurotunnel - UK/FR
Millau bridge near Marseille - France
Hotels 5 stars in RainForest
Kheops - Cairo - Egypt

Answer 4

I love churches created during the gothic period. I esp. love the mix of ruins and green grass. The grandeur and the artistic details of Ancient Architecture takes my breath away.

There are a few modern buildings that mix new material and srt effectively, but nothing really impressive.

Answer 5

I love the Chrysler Building (Art Deco) in New York City. It's the one with the eagle gargoyles. It marked the end of an era of extravagance, it was completed around the beginning of the Great Depression, but I still think it's beautiful. It's the jewel of NYC. In just about every movie that take place there they'll show it.

Answer 6

I went to Egypt many years ago and driving through Cairo seeing the Pyramids through the houses was an incredible site. When actually standing next to them they really did take your breath away, the sheer magnitude of the HUGE pyramids, the immense effort it must of taken and the sheer bliss of stepping inside one simply for its coolness when it was nearing 50°C outside was a pleasure.

They may not have the blatant intricacies of classical architecture, but for sheer "Breath removal", I have yet to encounter any better.

Answer 7

I merely visited Berlin in September and became very a lot shocked by how a lot i enjoyed it, Berlin is an engaging place so full of history, and the history is so modern! in case you bypass i might propose Brewer's walking excursion, (I thinks that's what its called) I went on the 8 hours one, sounds long i understand, even yet it became completely properly worth it. I discovered extra WW2 and the GDR than I ever did at school. It in no way regarded long and that i've got been given extra out of the city in one day than i think of i'm going to have wandering around on my own in a week! additionally while you're on a funds i might propose Circus Hostels, very magnificent, very inexpensive.

Answer 8

The Cologne Cathedral in Germany
Linderhoff Castle in Bavaria
city of Teotihuacan in Mexico

Answer 9

In the event that you are searching for woodworking plans you can discover a huge number of woodworking plans here:

http://woodworking.toptips.org

It's the perfect result in the event that you are simply starting with woodworking and also in case that you have already experience with it.

You can discover a ton of woodworking arrangements and you will have the capacity to deal with the projects with a CAD/DWG software. It permits you to alter the projects and to alter the arragements.if you are a beginner this is a great approach to start. It's the best approach to woodworking; and on the off chance that you already have experience you will discover a considerable measure of plans and inspirations to improve your capabilities with woodwork.

Answer 10

even though mostly destroyed the temple of athena on athens acropolis.

It's mindboggling to know how they were able to construct such an architectural and mathematical wonder with only primitive tools.(in case you don't know every column and angle on this building are offset in such an angle that it seems like a straight building when seen from athens)

Furthermore I must add the grand place from my own nations capital Brussels. It amazes me every time