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What inspired the glass façade of this concert hall?
This is Harpa concert hall and conference centre located in Reykjavík, Iceland which was opened for public in 2011. Harpa was designed by the...
Do You Know?
Why this temple is considered one of the greatest achievements of ancient architects?
Unlike other South Indian temples, Brihadishvara Temple, also called Rajarajesvaram in Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu is unique in many respects. Built by Tamil king...
Do You Know?
Do you know how many pillars this temple has?
Some facts about this temple in Ranakpur in Rajasthan are still not clear – How long it took to build this temple, how much...
Do You Know?
What inspired this roofscape design?
The Zooraji Rooftop Garden in Daegu, South Korea, is the third in a series of roofscapes designed by Alan Maskin of Olson Kundig Architects...
Do You Know?
Why this temple is called Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh?
This temple is called Bhoramdeo temple and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is a thousand year old place of worship situated in Chouragaon...
from the archives
What inspired the glass façade of this concert hall?
This is Harpa concert hall and conference centre located in Reykjavík, Iceland which was opened for public in 2011. Harpa was designed by the Danish firm Henning Larsen Architects in co-operation with Danish-Icelandic artist...
Why this temple is considered one of the greatest achievements of ancient architects?
Unlike other South Indian temples, Brihadishvara Temple, also called Rajarajesvaram in Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu is unique in many respects. Built by Tamil king Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD, the...
Do you know how many pillars this temple has?
Some facts about this temple in Ranakpur in Rajasthan are still not clear – How long it took to build this temple, how much it cost and who were all involved in its design?...
What inspired this roofscape design?
The Zooraji Rooftop Garden in Daegu, South Korea, is the third in a series of roofscapes designed by Alan Maskin of Olson Kundig Architects for one of South Korea’s largest retailers, Shinsegae. Located on...
Why this temple is called Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh?
This temple is called Bhoramdeo temple and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is a thousand year old place of worship situated in Chouragaon in Kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh and 125 Km from Raipur....
What inspired the design of this new Olympic House?
On 23rd June 2019, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially opened Olympic House at Lausanne, Switzerland. The inauguration was the highlight of the very emblematic and emotional celebrations to mark the 125th anniversary of...
What makes this chapel different from others?
The Bruder Klaus Field Chapel, completed in 2007 is located on an agricultural landscape in the rural town of Eifel, Germany. The field chapel is dedicated to Swiss Saint Nicholas von der Flue (1417-1487),...
What message this ancient city called ‘Manhattan of the Desert’?
Surrounded by a fortified wall, the 16th-century city of Shibam in Yemen is one of the oldest and best examples of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction. Its impressive tower-like structures...
What inspired this museum’s design?
The gift shop at the National Museum of Qatar offers a large collection of well-designed, exclusive gifts, many of which draw their inspiration from the history, heritage and culture of Qatar. But more importantly,...
What do the missing tiles of this mosque’s façade convey?
It seems there are only four blue mosques in the world and one of them is located in Tabriz in Iran. Tabriz is the capital of the northwestern province of East Azerbaijan (situated in...
What inspired this hotel’s design?
Opened for public in March 2018, Kempinski Hotel Muscat has already won several accolades, both for its architecture and hospitality. Located in the modern community of Al Mouj, Muscat, and encompassing over six kilometers...
What’s the mystery surrounding Towers of Ingushetia?
Towers of Ingushetia are built by Ingush, Vainakh and Chechen people in Russia. They are also known as Vainakh towers. Ingush, Vainakh and Chechen towers differed in architecture, but not much. The oldest remains...
What makes this University building in Sengal unique?
Alioune Diop University in Bambey, Senegal, was given the highest honours at the Aga Khan Award for Architecture ceremony in Kazan, Russia. Its teaching and research department is one of the 5 Laureates of...
Why the restoration of these walls drew criticism?
The City of Carcassonne, a fortified settlement in France, has existed since the pre-Roman period. In its present form it is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its massive defences encircling...
What inspired this Apple store’s design?
Apple Store is a chain of retail stores owned and operated by Apple Inc. The stores sell various Apple products, including Mac personal computers, iPhone smartphones, iPad tablet computers, iPod portable media players, Apple...
Why this place in Karnataka gaining significance?
It’s a small village called Lakkundi situated in Gadag district of Northern Karnataka. As per the 2011 census, population of this village was less than 12,000. It’s a small village which many people even...
What do the wheels of this temple convey?
The Sun Temple at Konârak built in the 13th century is located in Odisha and is a classic example of Kalinga architecture. The temple was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1984. The structure...
What makes the steps of this temple so unique?
Near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu there is a 12th Century Hindu temple, Airavatesvara temple which is also popular as Siva temple of Darasuram. The temple was built during the regime of Rajaraja Chola II...
Why this Haveli in London is considered environment friendly?
25 years old BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (also commonly known as the Neasden Temple) in London is well known for its stone carvings not only in London but all over the world. Adjoining this...
Why the pillars of this temple unique?
In Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district (in coastal Karnataka) there is a Taluka called Moodabidri which may not figure at the top of the tourist map despite having many worth visiting places. One among the...
Why this is called Museum of Human Body?
Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the Museum of Human Body in France is counted as one of the top museums in the world today for its unique design. Work on this 7,800-sq.m museum...
Who is the inspiration behind this dome?
The Selimiye Mosque is an Ottoman imperial mosque, which is located in the city of Edirne, Turkey and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Selim II, and was...
How this mosque is different from others?
It’s a mosque in Abu Dhabi that serves the dual objectives of creating an uplifting, spiritual space thus catering to the practical needs of the worshippers as well as addressing the character of the...
What is the India connection of this Swedish project?
Gravitational waves a cosmic phenomenon discovered by Einstein as early as in 1916, but first measured by scientists in 2016. Gravitational waves arise when two celestial bodies orbit each other, spinning closer and closer...
Why this castle is so dreadful?
This castle, popularly known as Château de Trécesson, is located in the Brittany region of France. Though the exact year of its construction is not known it’s believed that the structure belongs to 15th...
What record this building holds even today?
It’s a castle or rather a castle complex located in Prague, Czech Republic. It was built in the 9th century. It is the official office of the President of the Czech Republic. No, its...
Why this UNESCO world heritage site has become centre of controversy?
It’s the second most visited museum in Turkey, attracting almost 3.3 million visitors annually and is a witness to the changing political and religious equations in Turkey over the years. 1500 old structure built...
Why this kindergarten is juries’ favourite?
This kindergarten popularly known as ‘The Farming Kindergarten’ is located in Dong Nai Province in Vietnam. Set up in 2013, the kindergarten is popular not only among the kids and their parents but also...
Why this is considered an architectural marvel of Saudi?
This is the mosque within the campus of University of Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. The university campus is spread over 12 million sqm of land with about 1,600 teaching staff and 36,000 students. With...
What’s the uniqueness of this mosque?
This is Sancaklar Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey overlooking the Buyukcekmece Lake, completed in 2012-13. The mosque occupies a 1,200-sq.m space and can hold 650 people. This mosque made up of light grey stone and...
Do you know what will be done with this building and why?
This 19th century building is located in downtown Braunau am Inn, near Austria’s border with Germany. It’s a normal 3-storey building without any extraordinary architectural features. For the Austrian government it has been like...
What was the greatest challenge in designing this Bahai temple?
This Bahai Temple is the last of eight Bahai temples built so far in the world. In late 2002, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Chile announced a competition for the design...
What’s the significance of towers in this synagogue?
The Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center in Tel Aviv, Israel designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, is not like any other synagogue. It may be partly due to the fact that Botta always...
Do you know how old this site is?
This is an archaeological site called Göbekli Tepe located in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. The site was first noted in a survey conducted by Istanbul University and the University of Chicago in...
Why this building is considered Europe’s smartest office building?
Designed by the Danish architecture firm 3XN, this office building called "Cube Berlin" opened its doors this March. But the building has been able to catch the attention of the architects and engineers world...
Why this healthcare structure is so highly regarded?
Paimio Sanatorium is in southern Finland and was built in 1930-1933. The building served exclusively as a tuberculosis sanatorium until the early 1960s, when it was converted into a general hospital. Today the building...
What’s the speciality of the wall of this memorial hall?
Mount Herzl has a special significance for Israel and is the site for Israel's national cemetery and other memorial and educational facilities. It is named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism....
Why this house has no edges?
This house is located in Théoule-sur-Mer, near Cannes, France. No, this house is not famous because of the personality who owns it nor for the price it commands in today’s market. But it is...
What was the controversy surrounding this building?
The building in question is Boston City Hall and it was designed by Michael McKinnell. Mr McKinnell has become one of the latest victims of Coronavirus and passed away recently at the age of...
A world famous architect had hated this design
This building is meant to be the seat of the municipal government of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and was built to replace Old City Hall, which had housed city offices since 1899. The need for...
What record this concert hall in Saudi holds?
Maraya (Maraya in Arabic means mirror) Concert Hall is in the midst of desert and it highlights that very fact very effectively. The concert hall which was inaugurated in December 2019 is in the...
Why this Chicken House is popular even today?
Herbert Ronald Greenberg, popularly known as Herb Greene, is a 1929 born American architect, artist, author and educator. Greene’s work is known for original concepts, organic design characteristics and connections to landscape. He is...
How this one project drove his firm almost out of business
Henry Nichols Cobb, an architect extraordinary, passed away last week at the age of 93. Cobb in partnership with I.M. Pei has designed some of the USA’s most prominent buildings. But Cobb did not...
How this one project drove his firm almost out of business
Henry Nichols Cobb, an architect extraordinary, passed away last week at the age of 93. Cobb in partnership with I.M. Pei has designed some of the USA’s most prominent buildings. But Cobb did not...
How this one project drove his firm almost out of business
Henry Nichols Cobb, an architect extraordinary, passed away last week at the age of 93. Cobb in partnership with I.M. Pei has designed some of the USA’s most prominent buildings. But Cobb did not...
Why this church is so special?
When architect James Hundt started his solo practice in 1993, his plan was to design homes as any other architect would do. But he ended up doing something else – a specialist is designing...
What makes this mosque in Bangladesh so unique?
Faidabad, Uttara is an overcrowded suburb in Dhaka and is considered to be an economically-challenged area. Part of the locality is flood-prone and those who stay in the area only know about this problem....
What’s the inspiration for Umaid Bhawan Palace’s architecture?
Umaid Bhawan Palace when completed in 1943 was considered world’s largest private residence. Part of the palace was converted into a hotel in 1971 and recently the hotel bagged World's best hotel at the...
How a plane crash changed the face of Chandigarh city?
Chandigarh is one of the early planned cities in post-independence India and is internationally known for its architecture and urban design. The master plan of the city was prepared by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier...
Why this site in Romania yet to find a place in UNESCO list?
It’s hard to find a place which is rich both above and below the Earth. Rosia Montana in Romania may be an exception to this general rule. Roşia Montană located in the Apuseni Mountains...
Why this 14-century dome structure is so unique?
This mausoleum of Oljaytu, constructed in 1302–12 in the city of Soltaniyeh in Iran, the capital of the Ilkhanid dynasty, was founded by the Mongols. The octagonal building is crowned with a 50 m...
What’s mystery surrounding inverted shadow in Hampi temple?
Virupaksha Temple is located in Hampi on the banks of the Tungabhadra river in Karnataka. It is part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the...
Why this building is so controversial?
The Dancing House is a building on the Rašín Embankment in Prague, Czech Republic. It was designed by the Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić in cooperation with Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry on a plot where...
Stakeholders need to be more sensitive towards CCA needs
Government’s own study has found that none of the national flagship programmes have an articulated position on Climate Change Adaption (CCA) or clear indicators to measure the extent of mainstreaming of these issues, and...
What makes US’ old embassy building in Delhi unique?
The Embassy was designed by American architect Edward Durell Stone, then a professor of architecture at Yale University. The building was estimated to have cost $2,000,000 and is spread over a 28-acre plot of...
Who inspired this Cultural Centre’s design?
In 2014, the Fuzhou Government in China hosted an international competition for the Strait Culture and Art Centre with the goal of strengthening the cultural image of the city. A well-known European architectural firm...
Who is the architect of Pisa Tower?
Who is not aware of the ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa’? It is one of the seven wonders of the world located at Italian city of Pisa. Its known worldwide for its nearly four-degree lean,...
When completed, what record this temple will have?
India is a spiritual country and has more than two million temples (as per 2001 census) on record. This number must have gone up further by now. This number will further grow in the...
Why ‘moving day’ was very special for this Lucy the elephant?
Lucy the Elephant is a six-story elephant-shaped structure visualised and built by James V. Lafferty, Jr., a land speculator, who felt an unusual structure would attract visitors and property buyers to his holdings at...
What makes this heritage site distinct from others?
The Arg-e Bam is located in Bam, a city in Kerman Province of Southeastern Iran and is listed by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage Site "Bam and its Cultural Landscape". Bam is...
What makes this Vietnamese heritage town unique?
Hoi An Ancient town is located in Viet Nam’s central Quang Nam Province, on the north bank near the mouth of the Thu Bon River. Hoi An Ancient Town was classified as a National...
Why this Indonesian mosque considered unique?
There are more than 8,00,000 mosques in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country. Now the government there is set to go green with a new initiative that aims to establish 1,000 eco-mosques by 2020....
What inspired Chausath Khamba?
Chausath Khamba was built in AD 1623 - 24 to serve as a tomb for Mirza Aziz Koka, foster brother of the great Mughal Emperor Akbar. It is so called on account of the...
This church has some peculiarities which others don’t
The Church of St. Mary on the Aventine is the monastery church of the Priory of the Knights of Malta on the Aventine Hill in Rome, and is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary....
What distinguishes this museum from rest of the lot?
The Heydar Aliyev Center is named after Heydar Aliyev, the first secretary of Soviet Azerbaijan from 1969 to 1982, and president of Azerbaijan Republic from October 1993 to October 2003. Within two months of...
Why this mansion is so famous?
More than 200 years old mansion Ffynone near Boncath, Pembrokeshire, Wales is in news as it is seeking a new owner. The mansion has changed hands on many occasions in the past too but...
Why this museum is considered one of the best of this century?
This museum, “Muzeum Susch” was opened for public in January this year. Muzeum Susch overall hosts five pillars: exhibition spaces, a research institute, a choreography center, artists residency and an annual academic symposium. Though...
Why this museum is considered so special?
The Palestinian Museum opened on 18 May 2016, despite not having any exhibits. It took more than one year for the Museum to have its inaugural exhibition in August 2017. The museum designed by...
Why this temple is the focal point of everyone now?
Two noticeable trends during Kakatiya dynastic period were the construction of reservoirs for irrigation in the uplands and that of temples in the relatively populous delta areas. Ramappa temple is one such temple which...
Why this communist era legacy is considered precious even today?
Plattenbau is a building constructed of large, prefabricated concrete slabs that surround cities in eastern Germany even today. Often it’s considered as the legacy of erstwhile communist era to the modern Germany and is...
What’s the uniqueness of this bamboo school?
This is a school without walls, a campus which ignites the senses and the natural curiosity of children, a place where innovation, creativity and learning flourish, a community, which has come together from all...
Did Bauhaus kill architecture in Germany?
The German city of Dessau is marking the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus school of design with a new museum featuring exhibits that tie in with the movement’s iconic buildings. Chancellor Angela Merkel opened...
Why Buffalo city is an architect’s delight?
Buffalo is the second largest city in New York state of USA. Once upon time this city was major urban hub of USA. A hundred years ago, as an industrial port for shipping and...
What was Burle Marx’s first landscaping inspiration?
Roberto Burle Marx was one of the world’s most celebrated modernist landscape architects. Born in 1909, Burle Marx was also a visual artist, creating drawings, paintings, tapestries and mosaics, with the same modern abstract...
What makes this skyscraper different?
Africa is marching forward and that too at a rapid pace. And one indication of this is the number of buildings coming up in major cities of Africa like Lagos, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Cairo, Cape...
Do you know how India’s largest paint maker was born?
Asian Paints is the largest paint maker in the country enjoying more than half of the market share. Further, it’s the third largest in Asia and one of the top ten paint makers in...
Why this village in HP is unique?
Three centuries old this village in Himachal Pradesh is unlike any other village nor is it like any other crowded snow-clad tourist spots of the state. Pragpur village in HP is relatively unknown and...
Why this church is unlike other modern churches?
Completed in 1964, North Christian Church is located in Columbus, Indiana. The church building was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen who passed away much before the completion of the building. 192 feet high...
What is the controversy surrounding 43rd Session of World Heritage Committee?
The 43rd Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on World Heritage concluded on July 10th at Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The World Heritage Committee inscribed 29 new sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List during its...
Why this UNESCO inscribed city has relevance today?
Archaeological ruins of Liangzhu City was inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List at the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee. Located in the Yangtze River Basin on the south-eastern coast of the country,...
What’s the significance of Nuh in Haryana?
Recently, the historic ensemble of Orchha in the Niwari district of Madhya Pradesh was included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Soon after this exercise many historians and heritage lovers in...
Why Philharmonie de Paris is considered to be the best concert hall in the world?
The Philharmonie de Paris, the concert hall, located in the city of Paris was opened for the public in January 2015. The project of the Philharmonie de Paris began in 2006 with an aim...
What makes this museum different from others?
Stanley Tigerman was a noted Chicago based architect who passed away recently at the age of 88. In his professional career spanning six decades, Tigerman had undertaken several landmark projects and one of most...
What makes this bungalow so different?
While the people of this country will be eagerly waiting for the first 100 days of the government to get an insight into the new government’s policies and programs, newly elected MPs, on the...
Why this grave is so unique?
This burial mound is in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Japan and is popularly known as the Daisen Kofun. The Daisen Kofun is part of a larger complex of tombs known as the Mozu tombs spread...
What’s the controversy surrounding Louvre Pyramid?
The Louvre Pyramid is one of the most outstanding projects designed by Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei who passed away at the age of 102 recently. The Louvre Pyramid is a large glass and...
What makes this airport unique?
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) in Louisiana, US is one of the busiest airports in the US. Presently, a new North Terminal is being constructed at the airport which will be ready...
What is the shape of world’s smallest church?
There is no official record to classify a church based on its size - small or large. So, instead of saying smallest, it is always safer to call it as one of the smallest...
Who influenced the architecture of Notre Dame?
While the whole world was observing the Holy Week, workers in Paris spent Easter weekend stabilizing the damaged Notre Dame. Efforts have already started to rebuild the collapsed 19th-century spire, which wasn’t part of...
How long it took to build original Notre Dame cathedral?
Notre Dame cathedral in Paris which is considered to be a “spectacular work of architecture,” is making headlines because of the massive fire that destroyed the roof of the historic landmark, and toppled the...
Who influenced the design of Ordos Museum?
The Ordos Museum in China is a museum dedicated to the history and traditions of Inner Mongolia. The Ordos region is in Mongolia and is known as land of contrasts where the ancient traditions...
Why this Sri Lankan mosque is different from others?
This mosque, located on Second Cross Street in Pettah in the neighbourhood of Colombo, is recognised by many names. Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Colombo and a popular tourist site in...
Who inspired architecture of Bangalore Palace?
Apart from the parks and gardens, Bangalore is also known for this palace which is more than 140 years old. Spread over 183-ha land, the palace better known as Bangalore Palace, was meant for...
What’s the India connection of this Vessel?
Thomas Heatherwick who owns Heatherwick Studios in London is not an architect but a designer with many iconic designs around the world to his credit. For some, his designs are just waste of public...
What’s so unique about this church in Slovakia?
Unlike other churches, this church in Slovakia is open for public only six months in a year. However, every year thousands of visitors visit this church which has not been consecrated. Last year 2.5...
What’s so special about this Israeli airport?
Ilan and Asaf Ramon International Airport, also known as Ramon International Airport, is the newest airport in Israel. Opened for public in January 2019, this airport named after Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, is designed...
Why these chairs considered as trend setting ones?
Alessandro Mendini, a famous Italian architect and designer, passed away last week at the age of 87. He is one of the prominent figures in architecture fraternity who promoted the radical design movement of...
Why this is considered the most complex design?
Dubai has redefined the skyline of Middle East and it may soon become the hub of modern architecture beating the Western world in the process. Dubai where it seems only that matters is height...
Why this prefab house is unique?
For an onlooker its an ordinary 75-sq.m single-bedroom house in Australia. Developed by Architect Bill McCorkell and builder David Martin, directors of Archiblox, the house has won several accolades in last few years. This...
Why this well is so unique?
Its a stepwell located on Hailey Road near Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. 60-meter long and 15-meter wide historical stepwell, once upon a time played a crucial role in the metropolis’ water...
editor's picks
What inspired the glass façade of this concert hall?
This is Harpa concert hall and conference centre located in Reykjavík, Iceland which was opened for public in 2011. Harpa was designed by the...
Why this temple is considered one of the greatest achievements of ancient architects?
Unlike other South Indian temples, Brihadishvara Temple, also called Rajarajesvaram in Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu is unique in many respects. Built by Tamil king...
Do you know how many pillars this temple has?
Some facts about this temple in Ranakpur in Rajasthan are still not clear – How long it took to build this temple, how much...
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