Everyone has heard of the seven wonders of the world from the old days. But believe it or not, there are many more amazing buildings that deserve attention.
We decided to find out which modern buildings add to the list of wonders.
We found many! Check out these buildings – our civilisation should be proud of these architectural masterpieces.
14. The Lotus Blossom Building in Wujin, China
The Lotus Blossom Building blooms in the artificial lake in the centre of Wujin, China. The beautiful building takes its name and shape from the lotus flower in bloom. The architect’s idea was to create a wonderful atmosphere, regardless of the weather or the season. The building is also home to the city’s planning office.
13. An incredible hotel in the Alps
This is just a concept, but we couldn’t miss it. This hotel is planned to be built in the Alps. The building was designed by Andrii Rozhko, who was inspired by the dramatic mountain landscape. The hotel hugs a massive rock face and has a striking glass façade.
12. The Lotus Temple in Bahapur village, India
Another huge lotus flower-shaped building is the main temple of the Bahá’í faith. The doors are open to all, regardless of religion. Nine doors lead to the central hall of the temple, which symbolises the unity of all religions.
11. The Cube Houses of Rotterdam, The Netherlands
On Overblaak Street in Rotterdam is a group of 40 houses. They give the impression that the whole world has been turned upside down. The houses were designed by architect Piet Blom and all the walls and windows are at 45-degree angles.
Otherwise there are private apartments inside. We wonder what it would be like to live in one!
10. The Atomium in Brussels, Belgium
Those who see the building might think it’s just a huge metal sculpture. However, it is a fully equipped building. You can move through the tubes between the spheres and access a science museum or a restaurant. The Atomium depicts 9 iron atoms in the shape of a space-centred cubic cell of an iron crystal.
9. City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain
This is another outstanding example of modern architecture, and is located right in the middle of Valencia’s park on the water. It looks very futuristic and resembles the skeleton of a legendary beast. The complex consists of 5 buildings: an indoor shopping mall, an IMAX cinema, a park, a science museum and an oceanographic park.
8. Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan
The Heydar Aliyev Centre is probably Baku’s most distinctive and best known building. Designed by a brilliant female architect, Zaha Hadid – known for her love of “extraterrestrial” figures – the building’s fluid form is the most famous and most popular in the city. Inside are exhibition halls and offices.
7. Emporia shopping centre in Malmö, Sweden
This shopping centre is the largest in Scandinavia. The double curved glass closes a diagonal gap that bisects the building as if it were about to collapse. Inside, visitors and shoppers will find colourful escalators, swings instead of seating benches, and hanging gardens.
6 La Muralla Roja – The Red Wall, in the municipality of Calp (Catalan: Calpe), Spain
In the south of Spain, there is a housing project where everyone would love to live. Its name translates as ‘red wall’ and the building is a clear reference to the popular architecture of the Mediterranean Arab region. Inside the building, the red colour changes to purple and blue.
5. Art History Museum in Singapore
This museum is one of Singapore’s main attractions. Its shape resembles one of the palms of a lotus flower or chalice. In the background, you can see 3 skyscrapers with a boat on top, the Marina Bay Sands, a luxurious hotel and another architectural masterpiece in Singapore.
4. Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
At 160 metres and 35 stories, this is one of the tallest buildings in the city. With a Guinness World Record certificate, Capital Gate is “the world’s most advanced man-made tower”. The tower leans at 18 degrees (by comparison, the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans at just 4 degrees).
The skyscraper’s second name is Abu Dhabi’s Leaning Tower.
3. Markthal in Rotterdam, the Netherlands
This market is the most beautiful in the world. Even the Queen of the Netherlands came to the opening ceremony. The market is located in a building with an arch. The interior is decorated by Arno Coenen: fruit, vegetables, fish and flowers. This is why some people call the market the Sistine Chapel of Rotterdam. Here you can see the artwork.
2 Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain
This is one of the world’s most spectacular buildings in the style of deconstructivism. Architect Philip Johnson described it as “the greatest building of our time”. The museum has permanent and temporary exhibitions. The permanent exhibition presents art from the 20th century. Not to be confused with the Guggenheim Museum in New York!
1. The Kunsthaus Graz, Graz, Austria
This modern art gallery is known as a “friendly alien”. Some people think the building is the heart of a whale or a dirigible airship. The Kunsthaus was designed in the innovative style of blob architecture, an architectural movement in which buildings are organic, amoeba-shaped. In addition, the “extraterrestrial” glows at night.
Bonus: Architecture from an unusual angle
Barcelona-based media artist Victor Enrich creates exciting buildings by deconstructing and reconstructing existing architecture. Thanks to his imagination and the magic of computer photo manipulation, skyscrapers and other buildings tend to twist, turn and turn inwards.
