WONDER OF THE WORLD Khufu, son of Snefru and second ruler of the 4th dynasty (time line) moved the royal necropolis to Giza, north of modern-day Cairo. According to ancient Greek historian Herodotus, Khufu (aka Cheops) enslaved his people to build his pyramid. But archaeologists have since disproved his account (see Who Built the Pyramids? ). On the Giza Plateau…
47 Shares 10. Machu Picchu A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a 15th century Inca establishment located about 8, feet above sea level, Machu Picchu is the most iconic site of Inca civilization. Located in the heart of present day Peru, this site is believed to be built as the estate of the Inca emperor Pachucuti. Built around 1450 in traditional Inca style with…
My little bio is brought to you by the letter C: I’m a copywriter, card maker, and coffee drinker who just so happens to be a big fan of all things cake, chocolate, and cats. Born and bred in Switzerland (cheese, anyone?), I’ve spent most of the 21st century in North America (eating burgers). Even though I’m scared of flying, I never pass up the opportunity to…
Monuments historiques de Mtskheta Les églises historiques de Mtskheta, ancienne capitale du royaume de Géorgie, sont des exemples exceptionnels de l architecture religieuse du Moyen Âge dans la région du Caucase. Elles témoignent du haut niveau artistique et culturel qu avait atteint cet ancien royaume. محمية المدينة-المتحف متسخيتا تشكّل الكنائس التاريخية في…
The ancient world is one that is laden with marvels - from philosophy and politics to technology and architecture, the ancient Greek and Roman influence is one that we cannot escape. Perhaps the most impressive footprint to behold is that of the monumental scale. While it seems impossible to reduce the wonders of the ancient world into a concise 10-item list…
Architecture begins with an idea – and the maestros of architecture not only set out on radical journeys into the unknown; they also made it back with gems of sheer beauty and incredible ingenuity. I dared to make a list of 40 indisputably famous 21st Century architects who have shaped the iconic and memorable buildings of our generation. Initially, I wanted…
Ever uttered the name of your city and thought of how unique and desi it sounds? But for all their feels, they happen to be not as unique as you d want them to be. There happens to be a Delhi not located in India, along with many other such cities that share their names with us but are located in another part of the world. That takes a home away from home to…
The World Monuments Fund announced its 2016 watch list for heritage sites on Thursday. A boy walks through Abusir el-Malek, a heavily looted site in Egypt. World Monuments Fund Jordan’s popular archeological tourist destination of Petra, the town of Amedy in Iraqi Kurdistan and an Albanian hilltop prison are among the sites included in the World Monuments Fund…
Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles Architect Frank GehryFamous modern architects of the twentieth century found styles that were new, individual, unique and novel. As modern tastes changed, architects rejected classical styles and the lavish excesses of the Victorians and Edwardians. Modern architecture took the twentieth century in exciting new directions. The…
The enveloping lattice also opens the building to exterior daylight, which can be modulated according to the season. The openness to light is symbolic for a museum that seeks to stimulate open dialogue about race and help promote reconciliation and healing. From the topmost corona, the view reaches ever upward, reminding visitors the Museum is an inspiration…
This post is a guide to Drinking Around the World in Epcot’s World Showcase at Walt Disney World, with our picks for the best beers, wine, and mixed drinks. There’s also plenty of strategy for conquering this worldly task without climbing up the side of Mexico pavilion and holding up a Duffy plush Lion King style. We originally wrote this post a couple of years…
The Great Wall easily required the greatest human effort of any ancient construction! 100 million tonnes of bricks, stone, and soil were transported and assembled by millions of soldiers, peasants, prisoners, and animals using basic rope, wood, and basket systems on remote terrain ranging from parched desert to steep mountain ridges. Read on and find out more…
Take any famous monument around the world, and look up pictures of it on the Internet, or at your own albums, if you have visited the place. Don’t they all look the same? Sure, there are all sorts of angles, but the cameras are all pointed towards the landmark. But if for once, someone were to turn their backs, point their cameras away from the landmark in the…
I have been discussing buildings lately and therefore I decided to create a list that discussed ten of the most famous towers around the world. I am sure when I use the word tower; a lot of structures come to your mind. Well, let’s see if those structures are famous enough. You should know that towers have been with mankind since the prehistoric times. A tower…
The Shukhov Tower, known after the name of its designer, Vladimir Shukhov (1853-1939), is a landmark in the history of structural engineering. Formally known as the Shabolovka Radio Tower, it was built between 1919 and 1922 and it is an emblem of the creative genius of an entire generation of modernist architects in the years that followed the Russian Revolution…
THE Prada-toting protagonists of “Sex and the City”, a once-popular American television show about single thirty-somethings in New York, are unlikely role models for Middle Eastern women. The second movie spin-off was partially set in Abu Dhabi, but the authorities stopped it from being filmed or even screened there. Yet the single lifestyle appears to be catching…
Thomas Jefferson The Third President of the United States and one of the founding fathers of the Declaration of Independence. As we look back into his life, architecture the art has been his focus of study, even a style has been attributed to his method of design, the Jeffersonian Style, evident from the design of his residence “The Montichello” a combination…
Summary: In the profession of architecture, drawing is essential to the process of design. From diagrammatical to highly technical, hand drawing brings value to every architectural project by allowing us to quickly explore ideas and convey intent. The development of a parti, the analysis of a site, the organization of spaces, even the exploration of construction…
Focusing on recent acquisitions in MoMA’s Department of Architecture and Design, Conceptions of Space addresses how contemporary architects continue to embrace spatial creation as a fundamental focus of their work. The exhibition reveals how, beyond formal traits and functional needs, the conception and articulation of architectural space still defines architecture…
1 Sydney Opera House One of the world s great icons, the Sydney Opera House is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the star attraction on the glittering harbor. This graceful building, shaped like shells or billowing sails, perches on a finger of land surrounded by water. Snap a photo while gliding by on a harbor cruise, relax at one of the restaurants, stroll around…
Net Zero Energy House by Klopf Architecture, Cupertino, CA This refurbishment of an existing single family home is designed to be light and open and airy. The house is net-zero via insulated concrete forms, structural insulated panels, high-performance windows, cementitious siding, and a solar photovoltaic system sized to cover all of the energy usage. Add To…
