When you see a beautiful painting, what's the first thought that comes to your head? "Wow, that must have taken ages." Or is it "I can't believe this was done by a person"? At least that's what I often think when I see an architectural wonder. Truly, how can humans have built something as impressive and intricate as the Sagrada Família in Barcelona or the Duomo di Milano?
But they have, as well as other beautiful buildings, which often get featured in one dedicated Reddit community. That subreddit celebrates the best of architecture from all around the world. So, here we have for you, Pandas, the newest collection of pics from and for all architecture lovers!
More info: Reddit
#1 Art Nouveau Flower Shop From 1896 In Brussels, Belgium Designed By Architect Paul Hankar (1859-1901)
Image credits: na7oul
#2 I Love This Hidden Gem Of Paris !
Image credits: giolitti7594
#3 The Jal Mahal (Water Palace), Located In The Middle Of The Man Sagar Lake, Jaipur, India
Image credits: Srinivas_Hunter
How do you feel about getting to know some of these architectural wonders better, Pandas? Are you up for it? If so, then let's go!
First, let's talk about the gorgeous flower shop front in Brussels, Belgium, that architect Paul Hankar designed in 1896. Originally a gentlemen's outfitters, it is now a Daniel Ost flower boutique. Before that, it was the home of another florist, Isabel De Backer.
The storefront and the building itself were designed in the style of Art Nouveau, and we can peek at some exotic accents of the interior through the windows. The shop was restored in 2002 in accordance with the original plans.
It looks quite impressive in real life, as the 20th-century façades surrounding the shop are bland and uniform. Experts and architecture blame "Brusselization" for this type of bland architecture. It mostly refers to modern high-rises that were built without any consideration for their context that have very little personality.
#4 Maison Delune, Brussels, Belgium
Image credits: Cool-Gear3465
#5 Cafe Central - Vienna Austria
Image credits: Amazing_Bag6188
#6 Late 19th Century Vajdahunyad Castle In The Winter, City Park, Budapest, Hungary
Image credits: ManiaforBeatles
Another Art Nouveau gem from Brussels is the glass artist Sterner's studio and house. The façade at Rue du Lac 6 in Brussels was designed by Ernest Delune in 1902. The asymmetrical façade includes stained glass windows that are the work of Austrian master glassmaker Clas Gruner Sterner. He also lived in the upper level of the building.
Starting in 2019, the "Glassmaker's house" underwent a renovation because of damaged frames and being unfit for habitation. The works finished in 2020 and included the restoration of the front door, roofs and frames, as well as the interior staircase, which was left there to preserve the authenticity of the house.
#7 19th-Century Victorian Gothic Cottage Framed By The Arched Gatehouse In Holly Village, Highgate, North London, UK
Image credits: ManiaforBeatles
#8 Grundtvig’s Church, Copenhagen 1940
Image credits: DrDMango
#9 Swallow Boathouse, Moultonborough, New Hampshire
Image credits: Lepke2011
Grundtvig's Church in Copenhagen is quite a modern architectural feat, yet that doesn't make it any less impressive. Designed by architect Peder Vilhelm Jensen Klint and built in 1940, it was meant to commemorate the Danish priest, poet, and reformer N.F.S. Grundtvig. The architectural style of the church is described as "modern gothic," yet experts classify it as expressionist.
Klint made an interesting decision to make the church look similar to traditional Danish country houses. The entire church, aside from the baptismal font and the roof, is built from handmade yellow bricks. If you look at the picture closely, you'll see that the massive columns that rise to pointed arches are all made of these bricks.
#10 Romanian Athenaeum Atrium By Architect Albert Galleron, Bucharest, Romania (Opened In 1888)
Image credits: AshenriseOfficial
#11 Algerian Traditional Architecture
Image credits: Zine99
#12 Sagrada Família, Barcelona
Image credits: adventmix
If you've ever dreamed of living on water, the Jal Mahal palace might just be your dream home. Built in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake, it translates to "Water Palace." But it actually doesn't float on water.
It was constructed around 1799, and there are five stories in total: four are usually submerged when the lake is full, and the top story is always visible. Currently, tourists cannot go into the palace, as it is undergoing renovation. Originally, Jal Mahal was a hunting lodge, and it had supposedly gotten flooded when a dam was constructed in the hills and the lake was formed.
#13 Neo-Manueline Façade Of The Late 19th-Century Rossio Railway Station Featuring Two Intertwined Horseshoe Portals, Lisbon, Portugal
Image credits: ManiaforBeatles
#14 Storck Museum, Bucharest, Romania
Image credits: Sea-Rope-31
#15 The Picturesque Midstream Townhall Of Bamberg, Germany
Image credits: TeyvatWanderer
You can see a lot of castles if you visit Hungary, but the Vajdahunyad Castle in Budapest is a great example of the architectural revolution of styles and techniques throughout the years. It features Romanesque architecture, Gothic Renaissance, and even buildings in Baroque style.
Interestingly, the castle is not that old: it was built in 1896 for the Millennial Exhibition. At first, it was temporary, built from wood and cardboard, but Hungarians loved it so much that in 1908, it became a permanent structure of stone, marble staircases, stained glass windows, and painted ceilings.
#16 Kansas City, Mo Library (2004)
Image credits: DigbyD5
#17 Ceiling Of St. Giles' Thistle Chapel, Located In St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland [682x1024]
Image credits: Lepke2011
#18 Oxford, England
Image credits: lightningstrike007
New Hampshire can boast some interesting and impressive architecture as well. The Swallow Boathouse in Moultonborough was built in 1907 and had many different uses throughout the years. It's one of the most elaborate boathouses in New Hampshire, built in the styles of Tudor Revival and the Shingle style. Originally, its owner Herbert Dumaresq used it to store his 63.11-foot luxury steam yacht Swallow, but since the 1980s, it's part of the Windward Harbor condominium community.
#19 The Magnificent Rococo Staircase Of Augustusburg Palace In Brühl, Germany
Image credits: TeyvatWanderer
#20 Side Door In Ghent Belgium [oc]
Image credits: ArtofTravl
#21 The Town Hall Of Leuven During Golden Hour[oc]
Image credits: Lebanese_Brazilian
Tourists may think that St. Stephen's Cathedral is at the center of Vienna, Austria. But the owners of the Café Central may beg to differ. The architect behind this magnificent building was Heinrich von Ferstel, who was inspired by a trip to Italy and combined elements of Florentine and Venetian architecture.
He picked and chose whichever aspects of the two appealed to him the most and out came the Palais Ferstel that houses the iconic Café Central, once visited by the likes of Freud, Trotsky, and Zweig.
#22 The Magnificence Of Petra, Jordan
Image credits: SolarNomadPhoto
#23 The Black Church, Gothic-Style, Brasov, Romania (Year 1476)
Image credits: AshenriseOfficial
#24 Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace), Jaipur, India, With Its 953 Window Facade
Image credits: Kalifornier
Who thinks museums themselves should be works of art and architectural monuments? Romanian artists Frederic Storck and Cecilia Cuțescu-Storck thought so when they made their house into a modern art museum. The house was constructed in 1912-1913 with the help of the architect Alexandru Clavel and input from both artists. Its style is quite eclectic, including a mix of Art Nouveau elements.
#25 House In One Of The Old Districts Of Bucharest, Romania
Image credits: Unhappy-Branch3205
#26 Renovated Victorian Townhouse On Page Street, Hayes Valley, San Francisco
Image credits: ManiaforBeatles
#27 A Pair Of 17th-Century Flemish Baroque Buildings Housing A Confectionery Store And A Restaurant In The Historic City Of Ghent, Belgium
Image credits: ManiaforBeatles
The Black Church in Brașov, Transylvania is not related to Dracula, sadly, but it is one of the oldest medieval churches in Europe. Its construction started in 1383, but it suffered many attacks from the Ottoman and the Tatar armies. By 1477, it was finally finished, although not as big in scale as had been planned. Still, the biggest part of the church perished in 1689, when a huge fire devastated the town of Brașov. It was rebuilt in the 18th century, but the restoration works still continue to this day.
#28 Basilica Cistern(Yerebatan Sarayı),in Istanbul(Turkey)
Image credits: yeuxdusphynx
#29 Ribbon Chapel, Japan
Image credits: Burntout_designer
#30 17th-Century Church Of The Assumption Of The Blessed Virgin Mary And The Surrounding Buildings On Bled Island In Lake Bled, Julian Alps, Upper Carniolan Region, Northwestern Slovenia
Image credits: ManiaforBeatles
Which of these architectural gems were your favorites, Pandas? How many have you seen in real life and which ones would you like to see with your own eyes the most? Let us know in the comments! And while you're here, be sure to check out our previous posts about the subreddit that loves architecture just as much as we do here, here, and right here!
#31 House Of The Duque Of Almodóvar Del Río In Comillas, Spain
Image credits: SkellyCry
#32 Duomo, Florence. At The Night Time
Image credits: Yellow-Iverson3
#33 Brussels
Image credits: ArtofTravl
#34 The Maison Carrée In Nîmes, Often Considered The Most Well Preserved Roman Temple[oc]
Image credits: Lebanese_Brazilian
#35 Darmstadt Art Nouveau Colony
Image credits: ArtofTravl
#36 The Grand-Place Of Brussels[oc]
Image credits: Lebanese_Brazilian
#37 Barbican Centre
Image credits: Kimsameul
#38 Derawar Fort, In Bahawalpur, Pakistan (9th Century)
Image credits: dobzytheding
#39 The University Of Architecture, Bucharest, Romania
Image credits: DependentUnfair3605
#40 Townhouse Entrance In Holland Park, Kensington, London, UK
Image credits: ManiaforBeatles
#41 The 3,500 Year Old Temple Of Hatshepsut In Luxor, Egypt. It Was Built For The Queen Who Is Perhaps The Most Powerful Woman In Antiquity
Image credits: intofarlands
#42 The Two Leaning Towers Of Bologna, Italy
Image credits: Aggressive_Owl4802
#43 Osaka Castle, Japan
Image credits: Party-Belt-3624
#44 The Largest Fresco In The World, Painted In The 1750s By Giovanni Battista Tiepolo In The Würzburg Residence, Germany
Image credits: TeyvatWanderer
#45 Rohtas Fort, Built 1540, In Jhelum, Pakistan
Image credits: dobzytheding
#46 Barcelona
Image credits: PomegranateWrong4397
#47 Reggia Di Caserta Naples, Italy
Image credits: Dogoda96
#48 House By The Abzucht Stream In The Historic Town Of Goslar, Lower Saxony, Germany
Image credits: ManiaforBeatles
#49 I Came Across This Beautiful Door In Toulouse Yesterday
Image credits: Lebanese_Brazilian
#50 Arch De Triomf, Barcelona
Image credits: PomegranateWrong4397
