As more and more people all around the world get their doses of vaccines and booster shots, we can now go out of our homes without the fear of Coronavirus. As the world returns to normal, here are 15 must-see buildings in World that are the architectural wonders:
Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku, Azerbeijan | Buildings In World
Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center was designed by the starchitect Zaha Hadid (a woman!), known as the Queen of Curves. It was designed curvilinear to express feminism and futurism. Zaha Hadid’s works are all symbols of women’s empowerment because, during her time, architecture was a profession for men. Unfortunately, she passed away last 2016. But her architectural firm continues to push the boundaries of architectural wonders.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain
Some say that this building in deconstructivist style is the ugliest; others say this is the most beautiful. Is it a ship? Is it a banana? Or is it garbage? See it for yourself. This architectural wonder is the setting in Dan Brown’s book entitled Origin in which he described in detail the arts that are exhibited here. The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao was designed by the living legend starchitect Frank Gehry who is now 93 years old. You must meet and greet him too as part of the architectural wonder before it’s too late.
Fallingwater | Buildings In World
Known for its waterfall and river, the Fallingwater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the so-called Father of Modern Architecture, was described as organic architecture because of the building’s integration into the surrounding nature. Surrounded by the elements of nature, it may appear to the future as an ancient temple in modern style. It is an architectural wonder of retreat from the hurly-burly of city life.
Ocampo Pagoda, Manila
Located in the heritage District of Quiapo in Manila, the so-called Ocampo Pagoda, named after its owner, resembles a castle (Ocampo Castle is the most appropriate name) in Japanese style. The tower with merlons and crenels on the right side of the façade expresses, not Medieval character or style, but an ongoing war at the time it was built similar to the crenelated towers along the Great Wall of China. In an old photo, the real pagoda stood independently at the foot of the bridge above a body of water in front of the castle where houses are now located. Built during the eve of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, the Ocampo Castle served as a symbol of peace to the Japanese who still attacked the city of Manila even after the city was declared “open” to prevent destruction and it served as a shelter during the World War II. According to a popular rumor, the imperial Japanese army hid treasures in the Philippines known as the “Yamashita’s treasure.” The architectural wonder is ‘how is this castle related to that treasure?
Kaaba, Mecca | Buildings In World
Hundreds of years before the Modern architecture box became widespread, there was already a Kaaba, which means cube in Arabic. It is believed to be the House of God. It has four corners that point to the four cardinal directions. The mystery lies underneath the elaborate cloth called kiswa that draped over the building. Thanks to the internet, we can find out that the inside was a brick structure that resembles a shrine. It is an architectural wonder because it is the dream of every Muslim brother to see the Kaaba at Mecca.
Great Wall of China
From the aerial perspective, like a serpent or a dragon, the Great Wall of China stretches across the Northern borders. Not only was it used for defense but also trade. The real wonder is the view of nature from the mountaintop as you walk across the Great Wall and the beauty of two worlds separated by a wall.
Wall of India
Not much is heard that India also has a Great Wall next to China having the longest. The Kumbhalgarh or Kumbhal Fort was built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha with the architect Mandan. It connects two different natures and environments from the green Aravalli Mountain range to the dunes of the Thar Desert. Aside from being on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this is an architectural wonder because it gives pride to Indians.
Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv, Ukraine | Buildings In World
Saint Sophia Cathedral is the first heritage site of Ukraine to be on the list of World Heritage. It is the most ancient Christian Church in the East Slavic. With the war going on between Ukraine and Russia, one may wonder about the status of this cathedral. If this survives at the end of the war, the more it will contribute to its title as an architectural wonder.
Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
You may wonder what this building tastes like because it looks like a candy palace from the sugar world and its name also sounds minty. The Saint Basil’s Cathedral is currently adaptive-reused as a museum and is an important cultural symbol in Russia.
Sydney Opera House | Buildings In World
An architectural wonder expressing an expansion of land towards the sea, the Sydney Opera House located in Australia was designed by Jorn Utzon who won the design competition. It took almost 14 years to be completed and the public controversy contributed to its overdue. But the fact that it functions today as a concert hall proves to never give up just as the talent staged inside it. You must see this before you ‘return to the sea.’
The Pyramids of Egypt
Appearing like the unmoved mountains in an empty desert, Egypt is the home of not just one but 118 pyramids. The Pyramids of Egypt continue to fascinate scholars, scientists, and artists from all over the world. New historical accounts say are pointing to the biblical Enoch who commissioned the building of the Great Pyramid even before the Great Flood, questioning the fact that the Pharaoh Khufu as the commissioner was forged by its discoverer. Many people fear going here because of terrorism. If safe tourism is promoted there, it can upgrade the quality of life of people there.
Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia, designed by a Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudi, is the largest unfinished Catholic church and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is an architectural wonder because you can see it developing, especially for those who have seen it before and after. Sadly but happy, it is targeted to be finished in 2026. The good news is, the Coronavirus pandemic has temporarily slowed down the construction for you to see. The dead client is not in a hurry. Every architect needs a client like Gaudi’s. Who knows, what if, when Sagrada Familia was completed and followed by a World War that destroyed it?
Marina Bay Sands | Buildings In World
In Singapore, the Marina Bay Sands, designed by Moshe Safdie Architects, is a resort and casino in front of Marina Bay. What makes this an architectural wonder is the ship-like sky park with the largest public cantilevered platform on top of three high-rise towers.
Taj Mahal
The jewel of Islamic art in India, the Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum built by the emperor Shah Jahan in memory of her favorite wife. Aside from its perfect beauty, what makes this structure an architectural wonder is the story of the power of love that transcends life and death and even eternity. Going to the Taj Mahal is like a fairytale come true.
Coconut Palace | Buildings In World
Located in the Philippines, the Coconut Palace, also known as Tahanang Pilipino (Filipino Home), was designed by the new National Artist for Architecture, Francisco Mañosa, to celebrate the Coconut Tree known as the Tree of Life. The coconut tree being a hardwood does not indicate the actual hardness. In the Philippines, coconut being the ‘poor man’s lumber’ is mostly used in construction as scaffoldings of low-rise houses or buildings but is easily attacked by pests. What makes the Coconut Palace an architectural wonder, it’s a palace made of 70% coconut. This is a symbol of how a weak coconut can be engineered to be strong and grand.
