Top 10 Buildings of the Modern Era

Every age has its giants, but when the world moved into the 20th century, architecture reached new heights. From soaring skyscrapers to dramatic innovations in engineering and design, the modern era transformed the way we think about building. Here are some of the most revolutionary buildings constructed during the past 100 years, according to our readers. What do you think?

1905 to 1910 : Casa Mila Barcelona

Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi defied rigid geometry when he designed Casa Mila Barcelona. Casa Mila Barcelona is an apartment building with a fanciful aura. Wavy walls seem to undulate and a comical array of chimney stacks dance across the roof. "The straight line belongs to men, the curved one to God," Gaudi asserted.

1913 : Grand Central, New York

Designed by architects Reed and Stern and Warren and Wetmore, the $43 million dollar Grand Central terminal building in New York City featured lavish marble work and a domed ceiling with 2,500 twinkling stars.

1930 : The Chrysler Building, New York

Architect William Van Alen lavished the 77-story Chrysler Building with automotive ornaments and classic art deco zigzags. Soaring 319 meters / 1,046 feet, the Chrysler Building was the tallest building in the world... for a few months.

1931 : Empire State Building, New York

When it was built, the Empire State Building in New York City broke world records for building height. Reaching a height of 381 meters / 1,250 feet, it rose above the Chrysler Building. Even today, the Empire State Building is nothing to sneeze at, ranking within the top 10 for building height. The designers were architects Shreve, Lamb and Harmon.

1935 : Fallingwater, Pennsylvania, USA

Frank Lloyd Wright fooled gravity when he designed Fallingwater. What seems to be a loose pile of concrete slabs threatens to topple from its cliff. The house is not really precarious, but visitors are still awed by the improbable structure.

 1936 - 1939 : Johnson Wax Building, Wisconsin, USA

Frank Lloyd Wright redefined space with the Johnson Wax Building in Racine, Wisconsin. Inside the Johnson Wax Building, opaque layers of glass tubes admit light and create the illusion of openness. "Interior space comes free," Wright said of his masterpiece. Wright also designed the original furniture for the building. Some chairs had only three legs, and would tip over if a forgetful secretary did not sit with correct posture.

1946 - 1950 : Farnsworth House, Illinois

Hovering in a green landscape, the Farnsworth House by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is often celebrated as his most perfect expression of the International Style. All the exterior walls are glass.

1957 - 1973 : Sydney Opera House, Australia

Jorn Utzon broke the rules with his modern expressionist Sidney Opera House in Australia. Overlooking the harbor, the Opera House is a freestanding sculpture of spherical roofs and curved shapes. A scandalous political affair forced architect John Utzon to withdraw from the project in 1966. The Opera house was completed by other designers under the direction of Peter Hall.

1958 : The Seagram Building, New York

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson rejected "bourgeois" ornamentation when they designed the Seagram Building in New York City. A shimmering tower of glass and bronze, the Seagram Building is both classical and stark. Metallic beams emphasize the height of the 38-story skyscraper, while a base of granite pillars leads to horizontal bands of bronze plating and bronze-tinted glass.

1970 - 1977 : World Trade Center Twin Towers (Demolished by terrorist attacks)

Designed by Minoru Yamasaki, New York's World Trade consisted of two 110-story buildings (known as the "Twin Towers") and five smaller buildings. Soaring above the New York skyline, the Twin Towers were among the tallest buildings in the world. When the buildings were constructed, their design was often criticized, but in the aftermath of their destruction, they became a valuable part of America's cultural heritage.

Great Buildings of the Past 1,000 Years

What are the most significant, most beautiful, or most interesting buildings of the past 1,000 years? Some art historians choose the Taj Mahal, while others prefer the soaring skyscrapers of the 20th century. There's no single correct answer. Perhaps the most innovative buildings are not grand monuments, but obscure homes and temples. In this quick list, we'll take a whirlwind tour through time.

1. 1137 : St. Denis Church in Saint-Denis

During the middle ages, builders were discovering that stone could carry far greater weight than ever imagined. Cathedrals could soar to dazzling heights, yet create the illusion of lace-like delicacy. The Church of St. Denis, commissioned by Abbot Suger of St. Denis, was one of the first large buildings to use this new vertical style known as Gothic. The church became a model for most of the late12th century French cathedrals, including Chartres.

 2. 1205 - 1260 : Chartres Cathedral Reconstruction

In 1194, the original Romanesque Chartres Cathedral in Chartes, France was destroyed by fire. Reconstructed in the years 1205 to 1260, the new Chartres Cathdral was built in the new Gothic style. Innovations in the cathedral's construction set the standard for thirteenth century architecture.

3. 1406 - 1420 : The Forbidden City , Beijing

Occupying a rectangular area of more than 720,000 square meters, the Forbidden City was the imperial home of 24 emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The Forbidden City is one of the largest and best-preserved palace complexes in the world. There are over a million rare and valuable objects in the Museum.

4. 1546 and Later : The Louvre, Paris

In the late 1500s, Pierre Lescot designed a new wing for the Louvre... and popularized ideas of pure classical architecture in France. Lescot's design laid the foundation for the development of the Louvre over the next 300 years. In 1985, architect Ieoh Ming Pei stirred great controversy when he designed the stark glass pyramid entrance to the palace-turned-museum.

5. 1549 and Later: Palladio's Basilica, Italy

During the late 1500s, Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio brought new appreciation for the classical ideas of ancient Rome when he transformed the town hall in Vicenza, Italy into the Basilica (Palace of Justice). Palladio gave the remodeled building two styles of classical columns: Doric on the lower portion and Ionic on the upper portion. Palladio's later designs continued to reflect the humanist values of the Renaissance period.

6. 1630 to 1648 : Taj Mahal, India

According to legend, the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan wanted to build the most beautiful mausoleum on earth to express his love for his favorite wife. Or, perhaps he was simply asserting his political power. The Taj Mahal may have been designed by Ustad Ahmad Lahori, an Indian architect of Persian descent. Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic elements combine in the great white marble tomb. The Taj Mahal is just one of many architectural wonders in a land of majestic tombs and erotic temples.

7. 1768 to 1782 : Monticello, Virginia, USA

When the American statesman, Thomas Jefferson, designed his Virginia home, he combined the European traditions of Palladio with American domesticity. Jefferson's plan for Monticello resembles Palladio's Villa Rotunda ... With a few innovations. Jefferson gave Monticello long horizontal wings, underground service rooms, and "modern" conveniences.

8. 1889 : The Eiffel Tower, Paris

The Industrial Revolution in Europe brought about a new trend: the use of metallurgy in construction. Because of this, the engineer's role became increasingly important, in some cases melding with or rivaling that of the architect. The Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in Paris, and reigned for 40 years as the tallest in the world.

9. 1890 : The Wainwright Building, St. Louis, Missouri

Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler redefined American architecture with the Wainwright Building in St. Louis, Missouri. Their design emphsized the underlying structure. Except for the large, deep windows, the first two stories are unornamented. Uninterrupted piers extend through the next seven stories. Intertwined ornaments and small round windows form the upper story. "Form follows function," Sullivan told the world.

10. The Modern Era

During the modern era, exciting new innovations in the world of architecture brought soaring skyscrapers and fresh new approaches to home design.

Amazing Tall Towers

The amazing Tall Towers. Some are among the world's tallest man-made structures. Others are remarkable for the ingenuity of their engineering.

Unlike skyscrapers, none of these structures provide habitable living quarters or offices. Instead, these amazing tall towers function as radio and television communication platforms, observation decks, and tourist attractions.

CN Tower, Toronto, Canada

                                                      

The CN Tower was built by the Canadian National Railway to provide a major TV and radio communication system for Toronto, Canada. Ownership of the tower was transferred to Canada Lands Company, a real estate development corporation, in 1995. The name CN Tower now stands for Canada's National Tower instead of Canadian National Tower. However, most people simply use the abbreviation, CN Tower.

At the center of the CN Tower is a hollow, hexagon-shaped concrete pillar with electrical lines, plumbing, stairwells, and six elevators. At the peak is a 102-metre (334.6 ft) tall antenna that broadcasts TV and radio signals.

The main support pillar for the CN Tower was constructed by hydraulically raising a large metal platform from the base. A helicopter erected the antenna in 36 sections.

Ostankino Tower in Moscow, Russia

Located in the Ostankino district of Moscow, Ostankino Tower was built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution in Russia. Ostankino Tower is a radio and television broadcast tower and also a major tourist attraction with an observation deck.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai, China

The architects of Oriental Pearl Tower incorporated Chinese legends into its design. The Oriental Pearl Tower is composed of eleven spheres supported by three columns. From the distance, the Tower resembles pearls set between the dragon-like forms of the Yangpu Bridge and the Nanpu Bridge.

Space Needle in Seattle, Washington

The 605 foot (184 meter) Space Needle was envisioned by Edward E. Carlson, who was president of Western International Hotels. Carlson's sketch became an icon for the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle, and after many adaptations, architect John Graham and his team of architects transformed the balloon-topped tower that Carlson sketched into the saucer-topped tower we see today.

Massive steel beams form the slender legs and upper body of the Seattle Space Needle. The Space Needle is designed to withstand a wind velocity of 200 miles per hour, but storms occasionally force the facility to close. Several earth tremors have caused the Needle to sway. However, the original designers doubled the 1962 building code requirements, enabling the Space Needle to withstand even greater jolts.

The Space Needle was completed in December 1961, and officially opened four months later on the first day of the World's Fair, April 21, 1962. The Space Needle has been extensively renovated. Nearly every aspect of the 1962 World's Fair centerpiece has been or is being updated, including the entry level, restaurant, and Observation Deck, all the way down to the grounds surrounding the attraction.

Legacy Light

The Space Needle's Legacy Light was first illuminated on New Year's Eve 1999/2000, and has been shown on major national holidays. A beam of light that shines skyward from the top of the Space Needle, the Legacy Light honors national holidays and commemorates special occasions in Seattle. The Legacy Light is based on the original concept of a beam of light shining atop the Space Needle, as depicted in the official 1962 World's Fair poster.

Montjuic Communications Tower in Barcelona, Spain

The Montjuic Tower has the usual dish antennas, but they are enclosed in a graceful arc. Thus, architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava transformed a utilitarian communications tower into a work of sculpture.

7 Modern Wonders of Green Technology: Conceptual and Actual Ecological Designs of the Future

Green architecture comes in many forms though lately it seems like these forms are stranger than ever. Urban skyscraper farms? Floating eco-cities? Glowing solar towers? Turbine-driven skyscrapers? Magnetically levitated wind collectors? Where does it end?! With all of these emerging green technologies it seemed an appropriate time to take a look at seven of the most amazing real and conceptual designs currently at the forefront of ecological innovation. These examples push the limits of ecological architecture and contemporary urban design discourse.

The so-called Lilypad Project is perhaps the most fantastical of these green wonders and certainly the farthest from being built but is too amazing a concept not to mention. The idea is to create a series of floating self-sufficient ocean-going eco-city islands. Each one would be able to house 50,000 residents and would support a great deal of biodiversity. Collecting pools located in their centers would gather and filter water for use on board. These would be places for adventurers and refugees alike as water levels rise around the world and threaten many, particularly island, habitats.

The most impressive feature of the new Bahrain World Trade Centeris, no doubt, the three massive wind turbines situated between the two towers comprising the main building. Each of these 80-foot turbines projects from a bridge between towers. The shape of the towers themselves channels and accelerates air moving between them which will help the building generate even more power. It is by far the largest wind-powered design incorporated into a massive building project to date.

The MagLev Wind Turbine is a big step forward in the world of wind power. By using magnetism to levitate the blades friction is eliminated and more power can be produced without any additional power expense (since the magnetics require no energy to run). The MagLev has a low threshold velocity for producing energy, could theoretically survive for centuries and can power up to 750,000 homes. Though the initial investment involved hundreds of millions of dollars the payoff is potentially huge.

This glowing solar tower looks like something straight out of the Bible. Glowing bright white it sticks out like a sore (giant’s) thumb in the middle of the rolling countryside in Spain. So what is it? Well, it is Europe’s first commercial power station to harness the energy of the sun. How does it work? The sun’s rays are all directed at a single point of the tower and turn water at that point into steam. The steam in turn moves through turbines and generates energy. A strange but very functional process.

Urban skyscraper farms are still purely conceptual for now but are amazing theoretical propositions. They would provide locally grown food in densely packed urban centers. Some such designs incorporate elaborate rainwater reuse systems and other sustainable strategies intended to minimize their environmental impact and maximize their productivity. However, they are massive in scale and would cost a great deal to build. This huge initial outlay is part of what is keeping them out of production.

The Dongtan Eco-City is designed to be the world’s first not only an environmentally but also a “socially, economically and culturally” sustainable city. The site is over 50 square miles in size and will be split between agricultural and urban areas. The city relies on its own wind and solar energy as well as organic farming strategies. Public transportation will be entirely emissions free. In many ways this is a prototype for large-scale city planning within a fully eco-friendly mindset.

The so-called Lighthouse skyscraper is a 1000-foot-tall office skyscraper that is designed to use about half the water and energy of a typical high-rise building. The tower design employs solar energy collection and wind farming techniques coupled with strategies to reduce the use of and improve recovery of energy and water within the building. If/when built, this building will be a kind of working prototype for future green design in massive urban construction.

While these projects are extremely impressive in terms of their scope, scale and innovation many of them are expensive and difficult to replicate. They are, in short, large-scale solutions to a pervasive problem that exists on all scales with respect to sustainability in design. So what is the answer? Well, some designers have come up with alternatives that are meant to work at varying scales and within more limited budgets. Agustin Otegui’s Nano Vent-Skin is a perfect example.

What is it? In short it is a structure that acts like a skin. It is composed of mini wind turbines made out of micro organisms which generate energy from wind and sunlight. NVS was born as a small scale alternative after seeing all the gigantic projects (like those mentioned above) being built around the world. Where it seems that in order to be green you have to think big and build something impressively huge. This concept tries to make Architects and Designers think on a smaller scale and apply it to existing buildings, houses and structures or even tunnels and barriers to generate energy.

Green award winning architectural designs from Oz

The New South Wales Architectural Awards list for outstanding design, presented by the Australian Institute of Architects (New South Wales Chapter), was announced in Sydney on the 5th of August. Among the 42 chosen, 20 were awarded to adaptive reuse projects and new sustainable constructions. I’m glad to see people down under taking the initiative to look after their environment and explore alternative energy sources. Let’s look at some of the winners.


Tonkin Zulaikha Greer’s “CarriageWorks” at Eveleigh [Winner – Heritage Architecture Greenway Award]

A classic example of blending new with the old, this 1880 steam engine carriage workshop, CarriageWorks, has been souped up with flexible theater spaces, administration offices, workshop spaces and amenities in discrete concrete boxes articulated from the heritage fabric, while still retaining its existing features and structure, thus maintaining the old feel of this landmark and wasting no materiel on additional construction. A superb effort!


Harry Seidler & Associates’ “Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre” [Winner – Public Architecture Award]

In honor of one of Australia’s leading swimmers, Harry Seider’s Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre has become one of Sydney’s top public rooms. Its curving roof trusses and modern appearance might distract you from the fact that it’s a self-sustaining swimming pool.

Stanic Harding’s “Darling Point Apartment 2″ [Winner – Interior Architecture Award]

My personal favorite of the lot, Stanic’s Darling Point Apartment 2 is a truly amazing work of art. The entire apartment rests on the 18th floor of a circular building and offers a magnificent 360- degree view of the Sydney harbor. With its fluid design and superb use of space and integration of services, I’m sure you can clearly see he deserves all the accolades he gets for this one. Now if only I could live there!

Peter Stutchbury Architecture’s “Garden House” [Winner – Residential Architecture (Additions & Alterations) Award]

The original property was unified into one giant garden with a centrally located dining area, thus by obscuring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, allows its patrons the experience of truly living with nature.

Reg Lark Architect’s “Balgowlah House” [Winner – Architecture Award]

What appears to be a giant garage, is actually the Balgowlah House. Its strange geometric appearance belies the genius that has gone into it. The interiors are beautifully proportioned and boast a magnificent view of the harbor.

Casey Brown Architecture’s Permanent Camping [Commendation]

Built entirely from junk, this house looks like a hermit’s hut. But unbelievably it stands 2 stories tall and is as strong as any of the structures around. Its interiors even have verandas, a bush kitchen, a slow combustion stove and a loft connected by a ladder with which to survey the land. Amazing what can be done with junk!

Paul Pholeros’ work with indigenous tribes [Special Jury Prize]

And last but certainly not least, a Special Jury Prize was presented to Paul Pholeros of Sydney-based practice Healthabitat for his outstanding ongoing work with indigenous communities across Australia. His designs work in harmony with nature and have a beautiful untouched rustic feel to them. He is currently working on building an eco-village in China.

So much has been done in Australia to ensure that waste is minimized and that their structures work in harmony with the enviornment. I only hope this trend catches on in other countries.