Architecture
Photo: PierreSelim, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The architecture of a place is often a tourist attraction in its own right. Many buildings are quite beautiful to look at and the view from a tall building or from a cleverly-positioned window can be a beauty to behold. Architecture overlaps considerably with other fields including urban planning, civil engineering, decorative arts, interior design and landscape design. Some of the finest examples of architecture are almost fractally interesting — there is something worth a look whatever scale you choose. From a meter away, the impressive thing about the Taj Mahal is the fine stone inlay work on many surfaces. At a few meters, the elegant shapes of various things draw the eye. Moving further back, one sees the building as a whole and the extensive gardens. To fully understand the Taj, one would need to look at the history of the Mughal Empire and the traditions of Islamic art. Someone looking at a Frank Lloyd Wright house might consider anything from what it would be like to cook in that kitchen to how the place fits into its neighbourhood.
Many examples of fine architecture are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. They also have a World Heritage Earthen Architecture Programme (WHEAP) and their Intangible Cultural Heritage list includes things like Japanese wooden buildings and various nomadic shelters such as yurts.
UnderstandWe shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us. Historic buildings often tell their own story and provide a place with a heritage that asks the visitor to find out more.
Buildings by purposeCathedrals, capitals, and other large projects are often cited as an architect's best works, but most buildings in the world are dwellings where people live.
Periods and stylesMany architectural periods are constructed by posterity, and some architects and buildings can be difficult to periodize.
Well-known architectsThere have been many famous architects over the centuries. We list some here in chronological order by date of birth.
SkylinesQuite a few cities have famous skylines that are major draws for tourists.
Record-holding structuresBuilding the tallest building in the world is every architect's dream (or perhaps nightmare) project, as it will eventually be topped by an even taller structure.
Unusual buildings
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Architecture" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: PierreSelim, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons