There are amazing architectural structures to be found all over the world. As a result, picking only five great ones to know about before becoming an architectural technician feels like a fool’s errand. However, these five buildings are ones that most students with a passion for architecture should certainly be familiar with, and also ones that are widely considered among the most well-known.
Here are five buildings any aspiring architectural technician should know about before embarking on a brighter future for their career.
The Notre-Dame de Paris: A Historic Past, Present, and Future
Although this famous French cathedral fell victim to a fire in April of 2019, it remains one of the most world-renowned European buildings. As one of the most famous French Gothic structures, its history dates back to the year 1160 when construction officially commenced. With a restoration project expected to finish completion in 2024, it’s an architectural landmark that aspiring architects should experience at least once in their lifetime.
The Burj Khalifa: A Must-Know for Any Architectural Technician
Dubai’s Burj Khalifa deserves to be on this list simply for being the tallest building on Earth. However, there’s more to appreciate about it than the fact that it stands over 2,700 feet high. The Burj Khalifa took about six years to build prior to its opening in 2010 and contains 163 floors featuring restaurants, offices, and living spaces, among other purposes. Those getting their diploma in architectural design technologies will not only find it impressive based on its design but also for the fact that it was a conscious effort on the part of the UAE’s government for economic diversification.
Moscow’s St. Basil’s Cathedral: The Face of Russian Architecture
Any student hoping to start their journey as an architectural technician will recognize the St. Basil’s Cathedral for being one of Russia’s most famous buildings. Built over a period of six years during the 16th century under Ivan the Terrible’s reign, St. Basil’s Cathedral would eventually cease religious services in 1929, allowing it to eventually transform into a museum. Well-known for its extremely colourful exterior and domes that resemble Hershey’s Kisses, its location in Red Square near the Kremlin makes it particularly attractive for tourists.
St. Basil’s Cathedral is now a museum, having stopped religious services in the 1920s
The Taj Mahal: One of India and the World’s Most Iconic Structures
Located in Agra, India’s 24th-most populous city, the Taj Mahal is perhaps the most famous example of Mughal architecture. Completed in 1643, this world-famous mausoleum was constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan, for the purpose of being a tomb for his wife who had died in childbirth. Students in architectural design technology training should also know that around 20,000 people helped construct it and that its surrounding area wouldn’t finish completion for another five years after the mausoleum.
Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia: The World’s Most Impressive Incomplete Structure
Perhaps Antoni Gaudi’s most famous work, the Sagrada Familia is one of Barcelona’s most famous tourist destinations. It’s also well-known for not actually being completed. Despite the project beginning in 1882, this Roman Catholic basilica remains only about 70% completed 138 years later, and cranes surround the building. Although construction may finish by 2026, it’s a building that polarizes the opinions of those living in Barcelona, and it only received a formal construction permit in October of 2018.
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