Architectural masterpieces: 12 buildings that will take your breath away (13 photos)

A true architect creates not just a building, he makes history. His work should not only perform a practical function, but also transform the space around, causing admiration, like a real work of art.





Only a few buildings achieve this ideal. People from all over the world freeze in admiration before these architectural wonders. And it does not particularly matter whether it is the first meeting or the millionth glance. Such projects require not only professionalism, but also real skill. From futuristic skyscrapers to ancient temples reimagined in a modern way, each of these buildings proves that architecture can be brilliant.

1. Neo-Gothic architecture of New College, University of Edinburgh, Scotland



In the heart of Edinburgh, where history and science intertwine, stands a magnificent example of neo-Gothic architecture. Opened in 1846, this building of the University of Edinburgh seems to have come straight from the pages of medieval chronicles.

2. An ordinary overpass in Egypt was turned into an art object





Egypt has found a brilliant way to revive urban infrastructure. Now the lower surfaces of bridges are not dull concrete slabs, but bright artistic canvases.

3. Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France



Rising on a granite rock in the middle of the shifting sands of the bay, Mont Saint-Michel seems like the setting for a chivalric romance. This unique island commune in Normandy is an architectural symbol of France.

4. The Weinhardt Mansion is not in China, as it may seem, but in Chicago, USA



This historic home exemplifies the grandeur of 19th-century architecture with exquisite woodwork, stained glass, and ornate details that highlight the era's features.

5. The ceiling of the Imam Mosque in Isfahan, Iran



In the heart of Iran, in Naqsh-e Jahan Square, there is a mosque that makes passersby throw their heads back in silent admiration.

6. Blue Pool at Hearst Castle in California, USA



Sloping down in terraces to the Pacific Ocean, this pool palace became a living illustration of the follies of the Roaring Twenties.

7. Yemeni architecture on top of a huge cliff



In the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, where cliffs rise hundreds of meters, Yemeni craftsmen have created an architectural marvel - multi-story buildings that seem to be an extension of the mountains.

8. Winter Garden at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, USA



The largest private estate in the United States hides a botanical masterpiece - a winter garden that is an engineering triumph.

9. King Alfred's Tower in England



This 18th-century brick pyramid rises above the Somerset hills.

10. The Oceanographic Museum in Monaco is built right on top of a cliff above the sea



On a steep 85-meter cliff, hanging over the azure waters of the Ligurian Sea, this museum resembles the mythical palace of Poseidon. Its history began in 1910, when Prince Albert I, a passionate oceanographer, conceived the idea of creating a temple of marine sciences.

11. Buddha Hill in Sapporo, Japan



In the suburbs of Sapporo, where there was once an ordinary hill, an architectural phenomenon appeared in 2015 - a 13.5-meter Buddha, seemingly growing out of the ground.

12. The Harbin Opera House in China looks like it was designed by a mad architect



On the banks of the Songhua River, where winter temperatures drop to -30°C, a futuristic masterpiece has emerged: an opera house that resembles a giant ice floe carved by frost and wind.