Article written by Valeria Lasso.
We’ve all come across a building at least once and thought ‘wow, that’s pretty cool!’, but can you say that architecture is art? My answer to this is yes, but it depends. There are structures in the world that look absolutely amazing, and I just can’t help but think of them as art.
Then, there’s your everyday buildings and houses that don’t really have much of an artistic side to them. The conventional structures we see and live in don’t really make the cut. However, they are still very important, and I am by no means undermining the work of the architects that design the houses and buildings we live in. Their work is essential and important to all of us and, for that, they deserve recognition. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to be living in an ugly house with no proper division of space.
Since we’ve already given architects in general recognition, let’s talk about those architects that take things to another level.
Guess who has come up with yet another fun list?
Yup! Let’s just get into it.
1. Sydney Opera House by Jorn Utson
Now, how can I claim to be in an Australian blog if I don’t include this very cool structure designed by Jorn Utson. The Sydney Opera house is recognizable from anywhere you look at it. It is one of the symbols of the 20th-century architecture.
Frank Gehry said that it “changed the image of an entire country.” And he is right.
When I think of Australia, the first thing I think about is Kangaroos and Koalas, but if I had to pick a structure that represents Australia, the Sydney Opera House would be the very first building I would think of.
2. The Tornillo (screw) by Pinzón Lozano and Associates
This structure is very close to my heart because it is a building in my hometown, Panamá. It’s in the very middle of the city and, let me tell you, nothing decorates a city skyline like a pretty green building that looks like a giant screw. The design of the ‘Tornillo’ rotates around a central axis, turning 360 degrees as it goes up, giving it the appearance of a helix. It is the 7th tallest building in Panamá city. Fun fact: even though it’s in my hometown, I’ve never actually seen the inside of it.
3. Taj Mahal
I know this might be a cliché, but come on! This structure is absolutely breathtaking. It’s on my bucket list to visit this beautiful place. The saddest part is that we don’t really know exactly who designed the building. Back when it was built, the masters were the ones that took the credit for everything. Nevertheless, this structure deserves to make the list due to its outstanding architecture. It looks perfectly symmetrical and aesthetic.
4. Cathedral of Brasilia by Oscar Niemeyer
This cathedral by Oscar Niemeyer is fascinating. The Cathedral of Brasilia is formed from a circle of 16 curved columns connected by wide swaths of glazing. The structure looks like it is building strength from the ground, rising and bursting toward the heavens with open arms. It looks like a strong, powerful structure. Very worth visiting, even if you’re not religious.
5. Palais Bulles by Antti Lovag
The Palais Bulles by Antti Lovag is a classic example of an out-of-the-norm aesthetic. It looks like an alien house. This house is found in a rocky hillside that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea in Cannes, France. It is often used for film festivals and other fashion-related events. My first thought when I see this is ‘bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles’, and I love it. Antti has a lot of imagination and, without even knowing him at all, I would guess that he is a very fun person. I mean, who could design something like this without some fun?
6. Tschuggen Grand Hotel by Mario Botta and Carlo Rampazi
On a Swiss mountainside, you can find the Tschuggen Grand Hotel. This smaller structure though, is actually called Berg Oase, and it’s an extension of the hotel. It was designed by Mario Botta and Carlo Rampazi. It is a wellness centre and spa. How cool is that? This looks so beautiful, I couldn’t not include it into the list. All I want to do is stare at it. I’d love to look out from inside the structure as well. The whole structure is just amazing and deserves to be acknowledged as art. Had I not known that this is an actual place, I could’ve believed that it was a painting.
7. Dancing House Gallery by Vlado Milunić
This gallery can be found on the riverside in Prague. This gallery is dedicated to exhibiting the works of prominent Czech and international artists, as well as hosting various thematic exhibitions, but you don’t even have to go inside to notice that this building is all about art. To be honest, I’m a little dizzy from looking at it. However, the creativity and imagination an architect needs to come up with to design a building that looks like it’s collapsing from within, is a lot. This is the only other structure from this list that I have had the luck of being able to see in person, and it’s even more amazing in person. Definitely worth the visit. Wish I had gone inside, now that I’m looking back on the time I went to visit.
So, that’s it, friends. These are my top 7 structures that I believe are art. Now it’s your turn to think of structures that you’ve seen in your day-to-day life that make you think of art. If you can’t think of any, maybe next time you’re out and about, pay attention to your surroundings and identify the art in the structures and buildings you see.
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