Great Buildings and Structures
By Jackie Craven, About.com Guide
- Famous Buildings
- World's Tallest Buildings
- Masterpieces of Engineering
- Funny Buildings
- Famous Houses
- Famous Architects & Builders
Famous Buildings
What makes a building great? Many of the buildings and structures featured here are famous for their beauty. Others have become famous for their ingenuity or their historical significance. Some are famous because they stirred a storm of controversy. Are they masterpieces? You decide.
World's Tallest Buildings
From the Eiffel Tower to the newest skyscraper in Dubai, tall buildings and structures inspire awe and fascination. Here are facts, statistics, photos, and resources for the world's tallest man-made structures, including skyscrapers, observation towers, and communication towers.
- What is the World's Tallest Building?
- World's Tallest Buildings Ranked
- Photos: World's Tallest Buildings
- Photos: Skyscrapers and High-Rises
Masterpieces of Engineering
The famous architect Louis Sullivan said, "Form ever follows function." In these resources we look at engineering and design of functional structures such as bridges, dams, tunnels, and observation towers.
Funny Buildings
Who says architecture has to be serious? Here's our round-up of buildings that are weird, silly, or just for fun. Have you seen a building that's really strange? Please do add it to our list.
Famous Houses
From historic mansions to masterpieces of modernism, private homes reveal the talents, and sometimes the eccentricities, of their designers. The homes in this collection are among the most famous and most recognizable around the world.
- Great American Mansions
- Great Homes of the Gilded Age
- Famous Modern Houses
- Houses by Frank Lloyd Wright
- The White House
- The Mark Twain House
- The House Andrew Wyeth Painted
- The Amityville Horror House
- Graceland Mansion, Home of Elvis Presley
- Neverland Ranch, Home of Michael Jackson
Famous Architects & Builders
Explore the lives of famous architects and see photos of their most important buildings. These resources include biographies and photo galleries for famous architects, builders, and designers from Alvar Aalto to Frank Lloyd Wright. You'll also find groupings of important architects and designers, arranged by topic.
Historic Periods & Styles
Explore architecture through the ages. These resources will give you an overview of architectural history, from prehistoric megaliths to modernist skyscrapers. Find photos and descriptions for historic styles such as Baroque, Renaissance, and Neoclassical.
- What Is "Style"?
- Timeline of Architectural Styles
- Historic Column Styles
- Architecture in Ancient Egypt
- Classical Architecture
- Renaissance Architecture
- Baroque Architecture
- Rococo Architecture
- Neoclassical Architecture
- Antebellum Architecture
- Gothic Architecture
- Neo-Gothic Architecture
- Beaux Arts Architecture
- Victorian Architecture
- Arts & Crafts Architecture
- Art Nouveau Architecture
- Art Deco Architecture
- Modern Architecture
- Postmodern Architecture
Architecture for Travelers
These resources are your gateway world's greatest architecture, organized geographically. Find photos and articles for must-see buildings in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, Africa, India, North America, and other regions. Learn about cultural trends and building practices in far away places. Also find tools and tips for planning your own architecture trip.
- Architecture Trip Tips
- Architecture in Austria
- Architecture in Australia and New Zealand
- Architecture in China
- Architecture in France
- Architecture in Ireland and Northern Ireland
- Architecture in India and Pakistan
- Architecture in Italy
- Architecture in the Middle East
- Architecture in Palm Springs, CA
- Architecture in Prague, Czech Republic
- Architecture in Russia
- Architecture in Scotland
- Architecture in Spain
- Architecture in the USA
- Architecture in Wales
- Architecture in Washington, DC
Urban Design
Architects design more than buildings. They also design outdoor spaces: plazas, parks, pedestrian malls, roadways, transportation centers, and entire communities. Follow these links for information about landscape architecture, city and town planning, urban design, and outdoor art.
- New Urbanism
- Infrastructure
- Design a Walkable Neighborhood
- Design to Prevent Crime
- Great City Parks
- Great College Campuses
- Rebuilding New Orleans
- Rebuilding New York City
- Model Community: Celebration, FL
- Model Community: Loreto Bay, Mexico
- Model Community: Portmerion, Wales
- Must-Read Books on Urban Design
Disasters & Collapses
Despite the best laid plans of architects and engineers, great buildings can fall. Some are destroyed by earthquakes, fires, floods, and other natural disasters. Some structures are destroyed by deliberate acts such as the terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Center. Finally, faulty design can lead to structural collapse.
- Collapse of the New York Twin Towers
- Attack at the Pentagon
- Bombings at the London Underground
- Collapse of the 35W Bridge in Minneapolis
- Collapse of the Charles-de-Gaulle Airport Terminal
- Levee Breaks in New Orleans
- Attack on the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai
- Earthquake in Haiti
- Bonfire Collapse in Texas
- Rebuilding After Disasters
Issues & Ideas
All architecture begins with belief in an idea, a theory, or a dream. These links explore a wide range of design philosophies, from ancient Eastern philosophies like Feng Shui to modernism and Bauhaus.