Prettiest building

[Louis VI the Fat]

Next to music, architecture is my favourite art-form. I never tire of marvelling at architectural wonders.


So , plain and simple: please post a picture of what you consider to be the prettiest building on earth.

'Building' to be understood in a liberal sense. It could be that shack in your grandparents backyard of which you have fond childhood memories, or an entire block or even cityscape, anything. Any backstories or explanations of why you fancy your choice is more than welcome too.

:balloon2:

[Louis VI the Fat]

I'm going to be a bit unoriginal and mention the Taj Mahal. I have some other, more personal favourites that I'll post later.



https://img58.imageshack.us/img58/4408/tajmahal1000clemak3.jpg



https://img68.imageshack.us/img68/8444/tajmahal20300zx3.jpg



I love it so much! With its beautifully curved lines and proportions, its serene surroundings, its reflection in the pond in front of it. Sheer perfection. I have never seen it for real, unfortunately. But I do plan to at some point. I would travel all the way to India just to see this one monument.

[Big_John]

not especially "pretty", nor one building really.. but i like it.

Mont Saint Michel
https://img108.imageshack.us/img108/2995/08msm800xd7.th.jpg (https://img108.imageshack.us/img108/2995/08msm800xd7.jpg) https://img108.imageshack.us/img108/5323/montsaintmichel2004qd5.th.jpg (https://img108.imageshack.us/img108/5323/montsaintmichel2004qd5.jpg)
https://img108.imageshack.us/img108/7051/1958montsaintmichel01miniln7.th.jpg (https://img108.imageshack.us/img108/7051/1958montsaintmichel01miniln7.jpg) https://img108.imageshack.us/img108/6204/mont20saint20michel201vd9.th.jpg (https://img108.imageshack.us/img108/6204/mont20saint20michel201vd9.jpg)

[yesdachi]

The Hall of Justice! (http://www.ridiculopathy.com/stock/hall_of_justice.jpg)

Another (http://www.ling.umd.edu/swf/HallofJustice/sights/HallOfJustice2.jpg)

[whyidie]

This building has been a longtime favorite of mine:

http://home.comcast.net/~epkt/marin.jpg

One of those things that I liked as a kid, then liked even more when I found out its history. It is the Civic Cener for Marin County (just north of San Francisco) and was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. I believe it was also in one of the Star Wars films.





(Deleted hotlink pic - Beirut)

[whyidie]

I can't find a better picture but this is a new favorite of mine:


Its actually the Waste Management building for the city of Denver (Colorado, USA).

Its striking because its the only large building in the area and its a bit of a stylistic oddity for the city. It sits along a major highway just outside the city. Longtime locals refer to it as the Gotham building. If you look closely you can even see a fenced footbridge that crosses the river.

http://home.comcast.net/~epkt/xc_denverwastemgt.gif


(Deleted hotlink pic - Beirut)

[Red Peasant]

Ahh, you beat me to the Taj Mahal Louis. It is obviously an impressive structure, yet looks as insubstantial as a mirage, a miracle of artistic architecture.

I'll be chauvinistically Liverpudlian for my choice: The Metropolitan Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King, or 'Paddy's Wigwam' as we call it.


Outside:

https://img97.imageshack.us/img97/2876/liverpool20cathedral2pw2.jpg

Inside:

https://img97.imageshack.us/img97/9026/12mb26f2ua1.jpg

That better?

[The Spartan (Returns)]

whoa! thats some cathedrel!

[Byzantine Prince]

This is it in my opinion. It's not only the tallest building but also the most modern and traditional at the same time. It's awesome.


https://img131.imageshack.us/img131/6977/petronassx4.jpg

[L'Impresario]

Ah the Petronas Towers. As far as skyscrapers go, it's definately among my favourites (although it isn't the tallest).

The architect César Pelli (http://www.pcparch.com/flash.cfm) has definately designed some of the greatest skyscrapers this planet can boast of.

I also like:

The International Finance Center in Hong Kong

https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/9503/internationafinancecenterhkfn9.th.jpg (https://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=internationafinancecenterhkfn9.jpg)

Cira Center, PA

https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7018/ciracenterpf8.th.jpg (https://img100.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ciracenterpf8.jpg)

https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2883/ciracenter2ho3.th.jpg (https://img100.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ciracenter2ho3.jpg)


Hmm, talking of Pelli's buildings makes me want to buy his book (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/3764359021/102-1913587-7045761?v=glance&n=283155).

And since we should talk a bit of the buildings we put forward, I'll try to keep it to a minimum by saying that Pelli does a simple but wonderful thing with the best of the buildings he designed: he integrates the glass and steel with the horizon, either by transforming the material building into an archetypical shape (eg. with the Petronas Towers, it's like an open gate that leads to the sky, the japanese 空, kara-vacuum- and at the same time again 空, with its alternative meaning, sora -the heavens), or by playing intelligently with the light and enhancing the concrete giant's etherealness, an effect that is meant not only to please the eyes, but also capture the soul, as seen in many a myth about mirrors (although here we aren't dealing with a mere mirror, lots of extra properties to comment upon).

[Justiciar]

Anything Russian, I just love that unique style of architecture.

Also..

https://img471.imageshack.us/img471/5679/300pxsantamariadelfioreyx8.jpg

Cathedral of Saint Maria in Florence. Gawd.. not only is it hella sexy, but it's got to be the only major Catholic church on earth to have ever planned to house the corpse of an English mercenary. :laugh4:

[Samurai Waki]

Without a doubt the Hagia Sophia

http://members.fortunecity.com/fstav1/agsofia4.jpg

[nokhor]

the bahai temple in evanston, illinois, usa. i came across it unaware of it's existence the first time i saw it. just driving down a typical american suburban lakeshore drive, then turn a corner and WHOA!.

[Somebody Else]

That cliff-clinging monastary in Bhutan deserves a mention...

[Fragony]

Old: Koppelpoort in Amersfoort,

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/Fragony/koppelpoort.jpg

Modern: the grand arche in Paris

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/Fragony/grande-arche-2.jpg

(Deleted hotlink pic - Beirut) Ah! So that is what hotlinking means!

[Red Peasant]

A couple more personal favourites:

The British School at Rome, where I stayed for a couple of months last year:

https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7101/bsr1hq7.jpg

https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4518/350pxbsrjw2.jpg

And, the Pantheon, still breathtaking after almost 2,000 years:

https://img318.imageshack.us/img318/5108/pantheonromesmalldt8.jpg

https://img318.imageshack.us/img318/8196/20051012007pantheoninsideet4.jpg

[English assassin]

This is like asking me to choose the prettiest woman on earth. How would you start? I like all exciting architecture, I even liked brutalism. I even liked the Tricorn centre http://www.retrowow.co.uk/architecture/60s/tricorn/reflections.html. (I'm serious. Come on, look at it and tell me its not a thrilling building. Badly maintained, but that's not the buildings fault.

I also like the Brunswick centre http://www.c20society.org.uk/docs/building/brunswick.html, its like a concrete spaceship inside. Fantastic

OK, these are maybe not the absolutely most beautiful buildings on earth. But they may be the most underrated

[Beirut]

Please host your own pics. All hotlink pics will be deleted without notice.

[Geoffrey S]

The one place where my jaw really dropped. Just coming round the bend and seeing this...
https://img230.imageshack.us/img230/82/img5270copymd4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Stunning.

The was a little inn I stayed in a while back in the south of England. I've forgotten the name, and haven't got pictures, but it was a real old little building, nicely secluded, perfectly preserved with little winding passages, and some beautiful gardens. I wish I had some pictures of the place.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Almost everything in Venice from the shabbiest apartment to the grandest palazzo.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v695/aslanngrae/070-venice-doges.jpg

The Doge's Palace

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v695/aslanngrae/venice_2.jpg

And the wonderful Ca' d'Oro.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Ah, lovely. I was hoping for some unknown wonders and stuff like waste management buildings. I love all of them (I've seen the pictures before they were axed by Beirut), but I have some reservations about those sixties monstrosities from English Assassin. Sorry, I appreciate the thoughts behind both buildings, but I wish neither had ever left the sketchbook. It is dehumanizing architecture, fit only for the theory class. The 1960's were a period of sometimes exciting experimentation, that nevertheless failed to pass the real life test. Glad to see the Tricorn got demolished, even if its parking garage was somewhat okay.

whyidie, your choice does look familiar from Star Wars. Is it Jabba's palace? Or was it used in episode I - III?

Banquo, great choice. Did you know that the Doge's palace and the Ca' d'Oro were designed by the same architect?


BTW, here's a great site for those of you who are interested in great buildings (http://www.greatbuildings.com/).

[Louis VI the Fat]

Okay, picture time!


https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/1038/p10qn5.jpg


Charles Bridge, Prague. Perhaps the prettiest man-made structure ever. None of the constituting elements is extraordinary in itself, the bridge, the statues, the gates at either end, the church spires in the background.

But the total effect is striking. What an ensemble. To me, this is the most beautiful man-made view I know. It is both melancholic and glorious, uplifting, more spiritual than the grandest of Gothic cathedrals. It made me weep when I walked it.

[Big_John]

Geoffrey S, yes, petra is truly a wonder of the world! that's the treasury, right?

Somebody Else, the taktsang lhakhang (tiger's nest) monastery is amazing, good choice!

https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/7172/bhutan20taktsang20classic20webnr3.th.jpg (https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/7172/bhutan20taktsang20classic20webnr3.jpg) https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/3620/14taktsangmonasterylgof2.th.jpg (https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/3620/14taktsangmonasterylgof2.jpg)

nokhor, good call on the baha'i temple.

https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/6575/wilmettevr1.jpg

all of their temples are pretty cool.. but the one in illinois pales in comparison to the baha'i lotus temple in delhi!

https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/315/bahaihowdelhidawnhd5.th.jpg (https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/315/bahaihowdelhidawnhd5.jpg) https://img58.imageshack.us/img58/8369/65926566ab8e2cd828bgn3.th.jpg (https://img58.imageshack.us/img58/8369/65926566ab8e2cd828bgn3.jpg)

and the new one being constructed in chile. :yes:
(model)

https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/9879/bwns48064600ncee7.th.jpg (https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/9879/bwns48064600ncee7.jpg) https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/9016/chiletemple800wf6.th.jpg (https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/9016/chiletemple800wf6.jpg)
http://temple.cl.bahai.org/html/en/slide1.htm (click on the pics to advance the slides)

though, i wish they picked this competing design for the chile location.. :stunned:

https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/2346/mainview900kzj9.th.gif (https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/2346/mainview900kzj9.gif)

[Banquo's Ghost]

Banquo, great choice. Did you know that the Doge's palace and the Ca' d'Oro were designed by the same architect?

I did - Giovanni and Bartolomeo Buon, IIRC.

Here's another favourite of mine, the Peterhof near St Petersburg. Built by Peter the Great as his summer residence, it has many extraordinary influences as the Tsar dragged his country and new capital into the European 18th century. It is opulent, but still feels like a personal residence.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v695/aslanngrae/petergof.jpg

Description (http://saint-petersburg.com/peterhof/)

[Vladimir]

Sky City (http://mfile.akamai.com/9290/wmv/covery.download.akamai.com/9290/clips/skycity/SKYCITY_BB.wmv). The building that will revolutionize architecture, reduce the surface area of cities, and (therefore) reduce their impact on the environment. Not only would this structure be on the cutting edge of technology, it's Japanese, and would be mostly terrorist proof. Nothing less than a suitcase nuke will take one of these badboys. Discovery channel did an excellent special on it and is worth the 5 USD for the 50 minute show.

[Byzantine Prince]

Baha'is are so rich. :dizzy2:

[Kekvit Irae]

I've always been in love with Bavarian castles.

Sometimes the simplest of things can be the most beautiful. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a Victorian house. I love the architecture. It reminds me of the 7th Guest and The Uninvited games.

[Justiciar]

How's aboot..

The Temple of Heaven in Beijing?

https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/788/templeofheavenbeijingrw2.th.jpg (https://img117.imageshack.us/my.php?image=templeofheavenbeijingrw2.jpg)

Like English Assassin said, there are just too many to pick just one as the "prettiest".

[whyidie]

Looks like the civic center was used as a model only for the Star Wars films. I thought it was in 1 of the origional three as I first heard about it before the later ones were released. Was in Gattica and THX 1138 (early George Lucas film).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marin_County_Civic_Center

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Perhaps it's not especially pretty, but as a piece of architecture I've always rather liked Senate House, Headquarters of the University of London. It was apparently what George Orwell based 1984's Ministry of Love on.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v96/enervatedband/Senatehouse.jpg

[Red Peasant]

Yeah, spent a lot of time in there last summer BKS, poring over a couple of German books that even Oxford didn't have. Bloomsbury is a nice area as well. Are you going to one of the London colleges? I think you said you were applying.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Yes, I'm going to be studying Medicine at UCL next year, my grades permitting. Six years as an undergrad in London! I can't wait.

[Red Peasant]

Good Luck then BKS, I'm sure you'll love it there. Save your pennies though because it's pricey being a student in London.

[thrashaholic]

Any of the old Cambridge colleges...

King's College: http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/images/cambridge47.jpg, http://www.picturesofengland.com/pictures/500/Cambridge_1071463234.jpg, http://www.keithv.com/cambridge/large/kings_chapel.jpg

Queen's College: http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/images.big/cambridge25big.jpg

St John's College: http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/images.big/cambridge04big.jpg

Jesus College: http://www.paultownend.com/photos/cambridge/cam1.jpg

Sidney Sussex College (the one I'll be going to hopefully): http://www.cambridge2000.com/cambridge2000/images/0004/P4240767.jpg

[Avicenna]

Congrats BKS and thrashaholic!

Summer Palace, China:
https://img226.imageshack.us/img226/2800/beiip67qp7.jpg

Imperial Palace, Japan:
https://img157.imageshack.us/img157/2808/86344767ea19f78373mwo6.jpg

Plenty more of the Tang-style (I think) buildings are great.

[The Spartan (Returns)]

beautifil Tib. i gotta get some of my pics.

[The Spartan (Returns)]

after seeing Shanghai Noon i thought the Forbidden City was fake. guess not:
https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/3072/forbiddencity1ti7.jpg
i love the painting on the ceiling. i would love to go here:
https://img82.imageshack.us/img82/227/baldchinostpetrslgjr5.jpg

[Avicenna]

:shocked:

You've gotta be kidding, TS. You like Mao?!

:dizzy2:

[Justiciar]

I think he was talking about the picture below. :laugh4:

Just thought of another one; The Grand Palace in Thailand

https://img82.imageshack.us/img82/335/twentyfourir1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

[English assassin]

but I have some reservations about those sixties monstrosities from English Assassin. Sorry, I appreciate the thoughts behind both buildings, but I wish neither had ever left the sketchbook. It is dehumanizing architecture, fit only for the theory class. The 1960's were a period of sometimes exciting experimentation, that nevertheless failed to pass the real life test

Philistine. The problem isn't the buildings, it's the human beings...

OK, I am joking a bit, but this is an interesting issue. You could take the Isokon building in north london as a case in point. (Modernist rather than brutalist and 30s not 60s.) As originally conceived, it was a block of minimilist flats for quasi communal city living, (there was a canteen, the flats had only galley kitchens, etc). It worked well when opened, as the tenants were, well, the RIGHT sort of people. Well educated, socially literate, and single. Then alas the block went to the dogs, as blocks do, and with a load of chavs in it the block was a complete failure. It simply wasn't designed for that sort of tenant. Now it has been renovated, and the flats are being let to people like teachers, and its a great success again, and hailed as fantastic architecture. And it does look good, if you like Bauhaus.

Given another 30 years the 60s buildings may be seen in the same way.

Good call on the Charles bridge though. I arrived in Prague at 4 am on an interrail holiday, and walked down to the river to sit by the bridge and watch the dawn. Along with my first sight of the Kazneh at Petra, this was definitely one of those "oh wow" experiences.

See. its not ALL concrete for me...

[Somebody Else]

How about the Alhambra...

[The Spartan (Returns)]

:shocked:

You've gotta be kidding, TS. You like Mao?!

:dizzy2:wha?????????? (Moe) :inquisitive:

[Avicenna]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong

First Chinese Communist dictator who murdered countless people. Mainly Chinese.

[The Spartan (Returns)]

what a weird man. does he like chicken?

[Vladimir]

what a weird man. does he like children?

Corrected; and he did.

[The Spartan (Returns)]

no, i mean chicken!

[Kekvit Irae]

This thread is nuttier than Chinese Children Salad. :tongueg:

[Beirut]

:inquisitive: "sniff-sniff... politics?"

No Maoism, pro or con.

Meowism on the other hand is allowed, evidenced by Kekvitrae's sig.

[AntiochusIII]

wha?????????? (Moe) :inquisitive:I hope by that you mean Mao, as "moe" has certain...unpleasant...connotations if you have insight in the anime community, Japanese or American. :grin:

Hint: it involves a fetish of Mao's mentioned in this thread, relatively. And not chicken either.

Like others, there really are too many to choose from. Though you gotta admire the incredible pieces of architecture the European Renaissance left us with.

I'm surprised Thailand shows up in this thread though!

[The Spartan (Returns)]

oh! goodness. i mean Moe from The Simpsons!

[AntiochusIII]

oh! goodness. i mean Moe from The Simpsons!Ooooh.

https://img380.imageshack.us/img380/5249/moesimpsonses2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

I don't think he likes Mao. :wacky:

[Don Corleone]

Oh good, doens't look like anyone snuck this beauty in yet. Ladies and gentlemen, the Burj-Al-Arab, in Dubai, UAE. Room rates begin at $1000US/night, but ain't she a beauty? One of these days, Mrs. Corleone and I will be there for a stay.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v334/tharris00/burj_al_arab2.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v334/tharris00/burj_al_arab.jpg

[Fragony]

Wow! It looks like a sailship, awesome.........

[Leet Eriksson]

We are also building the tallest tower in the world.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v344/Fizzil/Burj-Dubai-Image-May2005.jpg

Concept art though, but to be completed soon!

[Strike For The South]

https://img109.imageshack.us/img109/9217/alamokn3.th.jpg (https://img109.imageshack.us/my.php?image=alamokn3.jpg)

[Moros]

We are also building the tallest tower in the world.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v344/Fizzil/Burj-Dubai-Image-May2005.jpg

Concept art though, but to be completed soon!
In't that going to be build by a Belgian company? :)

https://img455.imageshack.us/img455/3756/stadhuiskq8.jpg
The cityhall of Leuven, not so big, but quite nice. No?

[Leet Eriksson]

In't that going to be build by a Belgian company? :)

I'm not sure really, alot fo european companies are handling the entire thing. I'll try and find details hopefully.

[Moros]

Meh doesn't realy matter.

[Vladimir]

Oh good, doens't look like anyone snuck this beauty in yet. Ladies and gentlemen, the Burj-Al-Arab, in Dubai, UAE. Room rates begin at $1000US/night, but ain't she a beauty? One of these days, Mrs. Corleone and I will be there for a stay.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v334/tharris00/burj_al_arab2.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v334/tharris00/burj_al_arab.jpg

Sorry, I had to quote this. Faisal, why didn't you mention this earlier? It's beautiful!

[Hepcat]

Here is nothing spectacular but I always liked the Rotorua Museum (a nice local building), my friend and I went there to take photos of the arcitechture for a Call of Duty 2 level I am making of it.
Here is the building:
https://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l182/Hepcat_2006/COD2/th_Museum_and_Bath_HouseRotorua.jpg (https://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l182/Hepcat_2006/COD2/Museum_and_Bath_HouseRotorua.jpg)

And here is my adaption for Cod 2 (it isn't finished yet, but LAN grenade wars on the bowling greens are still fun :laugh4: )
https://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l182/Hepcat_2006/COD2/th_shot0123.jpg (https://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l182/Hepcat_2006/COD2/shot0123.jpg)

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

A small visual tour of Nürnberg, unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire, for you.

Schönen Brunnen
It's worth coming here to see this alone.

https://img96.imageshack.us/img96/2452/100500364eq0.jpg

Lorenzkirche
This beautiful building really stands out against the sunset.

https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/4426/20d14953ky1.jpg

https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/3215/nuernberg2020lorenzkirche20003uv1.jpg

Kaiserburg
The centerpiece of the Altstadt.

https://img109.imageshack.us/img109/9881/37254lt7.jpg

https://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6391/nuernberg2020kaiserburg20011sc2.jpg

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I've always been in love with Bavarian castles.

Sometimes the simplest of things can be the most beautiful. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a Victorian house. I love the architecture. It reminds me of the 7th Guest and The Uninvited games.
Are you talking about the monstrosities planned by Ludwig, or the little ones in the Frankische Schweiz? On both counts I would agree with you.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

:bump: :bounce: :bump:

[ajaxfetish]

http://123pichosting.com/images/2919mini chartres.jpg http://123pichosting.com/images/5847mini chartres2.jpg

Not so much pretty as much as dark and stunningly beautiful, but one of my favorite buildings in the world is Notre Dame Chartres. Also, I'd have to agree w/ Big John and claim Mont St. Michel as another favorite. Vive la France!

Ajax

[Justiciar]

https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7231/tibetlhasa01lo7.jpg