Travel For These Iconic Architectural Buildings

Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright

Hidden away in a forest in southwestern Pennsylvania lies the structure known as Frank Lloyd Wright’s “comeback.” Fallingwater—a home built atop a waterfall—is one of the world’s most famous buildings. Commissioned by Edgar J. Kaufmann, the home’s interiors are designed to mirror the forest outside. The walls are made of locally-sourced sandstone, each bedroom opens out to a terrace with windows opening outwards, and even a glass hatchway on the main level with a staircase leading down to the stream below. Allegedly, Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead was also inspired by the building and its creator.

La Sagrada Família, Antoni Gaudi

It’s impossible to escape Gaudi when in Barcelona, home to one of his most famous structures: the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família. While construction began in 1882, the temple is still incomplete. Gaudi was appointed as the architect in 1883 and worked on it till his death in 1926. Sagrada Família is expected to be completed in 2026, in time for Gaudi’s centennial death anniversary.

The Dubai Frame, Fernando Donis

A larger-than-life photo-frame straight out of every Instagram enthusiast’s dreams, the Dubai Frame was unveiled to the world to welcome the new year in 2018. A conceptual bridge between old and new Dubai, Fernando Donis’ design was shortlisted from 926 entries and eventually won the $100,000 award for the structure.

Biswa Bangla Gate, Kolkata

Nick-named the ‘Kolkata Gate’, the Biswa Bangla Gate opened in 2019 to give Kolkata dwellers a new look at their old city. The structure is also home to the city’s first hanging restaurant Café Ekante, certainly a room with a special view.

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Frank Gehry

Set along the Nervión River in Bilbao, Spain, the Guggenheim Museum turned Bilbao’s dilapidated port into an astounding economic success. The architectural marvel snakes around the Salve Bridge with a curved promenade along the river, mirroring it with water features. The Guggenheim imitates the landscapes outside like using narrow passages reminiscent of gorges to lead into the main entrance hall.

The Shed, Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Hudson Yards in New York City welcomed a new $475 million cultural centre dubbed ‘The Shed’ in 2019. This building on wheels moves and multiplies in two, all the while hosting diverse shows to satisfy even the pickiest New Yorker in you. Designed by the architects at Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with the Rockwell Group, this 200,000-square-foot comforter-looking amorphous building did manage to find something that the Big Apple didn’t already have.

Habitat 67, Moshe Safdie

Designed for the World Exposition of 1967, Habitat 67 was Moshe Safdie’s take on building high-quality housing structures in the midst of dense urban areas. Each of the 158 residential units stacked on top of each other with individual terrace gardens. The idea was to give suburban amenities in an urban setting.