Oftentimes, we take architecture for granted. We walk by buildings every day and barely give them a second thought, assuming they all look the same. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, there are a ton of weird and surprising architecture facts that you may not have heard before. From bizarre pavilions to daring designs, read on to learn more about some of the most fascinating structures in the world.
The Most Famous Architect in the World Lives in a Tiny Town
The most famous architect in the world, Frank Lloyd Wright, was born and raised in a small town in Wisconsin. Wright is best known for his designs of iconic American architecture such as Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum.
Buildings on stilts are more common than you think
Stilts have been around since ancient times and are still used today in some parts of the world. They’re especially popular in South America and Africa, where they’re used to get access to remote areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. Buildings on stilts are more common than you think, and they’ve been used to create everything from small villages to large city centers. Here are five bizarre buildings on stilts you may never have heard of:
1. The Bakery in Lima, Peru is located on stilts above a canal.
2. The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is perched atop a 100-foot-high tower made out of steel beams and concrete.
3. The Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong was built in the 1970s as a residential area encased by a wall made out of reinforced concrete and steel bars. It was eventually abandoned and demolished in 1998.
4. The Palace of Caserta in Italy is located on top of a hill and features extravagant gardens and marble staircases that wind their way up the side of the mountain.
5. The Eiffel Tower was originally built as an observation tower for the World’s Fair held in Paris in 1889, but it wasn’t finished until 1885 because construction costs were so high.
The Top 10 Weirdest Architecture Facts
1) The Pyramids of Giza were built over 4,500 years ago and still stand today.
2) One of the more interesting architectural facts about the Giza pyramids is that they are made from more than 2 million blocks of limestone.
3) The Palace of Versailles was originally meant to be just a hunting lodge for Louis XIV, but ended up taking 10 years to build.
4) Some famous architects who have designed some weird architecture include Zaha Hadid, Santiago Calatrava, and Tadao Ando.
5) The Sistine Chapel is considered one of the most important churches in Christianity, but when Michelangelo started working on the ceiling he reportedly said “I am not an artist but an engineer”.
6) The Parthenon has been described as one of the world’s greatest examples of classical architecture, but it only took 8 years to build in marble and granite.
7) One of Germany’s most famous architects Ludwig Mies van der Rohe famously designed a building called the Farnsworth House that was so futuristic it wasn’t even finished until 1978!
8) Flying buttresses are a common feature in Gothic architecture, but they also appear in some really strange places like Scotland’s Brochofen Tower…
9) …and Japan’s Futakomori Hotel which has two flying buttresses located inside each other!
10) While you’re probably used to seeing towers with spires on top, Notre
The Most Expensive Building in the World is Just a Garden
The most expensive building in the world is just a garden. The Meir Dagan Garden in Tel Aviv, Israel costs $200 million to maintain and operates on an annual budget of $4 million. The garden was designed by Israeli landscape architect David Rock and contains over 2.5 million plants.
The Tallest Building in the World is a Garbage Dump
The world’s tallest building is a garbage dump. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, is 828 meters (2,717 feet) high. It was completed in 2010 and has been the tallest structure in the world since it opened. The building was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP.
Most Architectural Wonders Were Built in the 20th Century
1.Most architectural wonders were built in the 20th century, according to the Museum of Modern Art.
2. Some obvious examples include the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, and the Chrysler Building. But there are also quite a few less well-known buildings that qualify as architectural marvels. Take, for example, the TWA Flight Center in New York City or the University of Arizona’s Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
Conclusion
In this article, we explore a few weird, surprising architecture facts that you may not have known. From the world’s largest sand castle to the first building ever intentionally designed without a structural frame, we take a look at some of the most interesting and unique architectural achievements in history. If you’re interested in learning more about how architects influence our environment and daily lives, read on!
