History is everywhere around us. It is in the people we meet, the food we eat and even in the places we visit. The buildings around us can regale us with tales of the past, we just need to listen. As much as screws and metal, such as the ones from www.scrooz.com.au, form the physical structure of a building, the history of it affects the way that we view it. Think about it, when a building has a nice exterior and a positive backstory, people want to go in, they want to feel connected to it as opposed to an abandoned building that has a sordid past which causes people to turn away and walk past it. Iconic buildings and landmarks are scattered all over the world. Which one will you visit?
St. Paul’s Cathedral, London
Sir Christopher Wren designed London’s most recognisable structure, St Paul’s Cathedral. Its famous dome, which stands at the pinnacle of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, is one of the world’s largest, measuring nearly 112 metres high. The original church on the spot was built in 604AD. Christopher Wren began work on the current English Baroque church in the 17th century as part of a massive rebuilding programme following the Great Fire of London. When he began work on St Paul’s Cathedral in 1668, his designs for the cathedral took a decade to complete, and the actual construction took another 40 years. Since then, St Paul’s has been an important part of London life, serving as a commanding feature of the city’s skyline, a centre for tourist activities and religious worship, and, most recently, a point of reference for anticapitalist protests.
The Leaning Tower Of Pisa, Italy
Everybody knows of this iconic building. Tourists regularly take pictures posing as if they are trying to hold up the falling tower. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of Europe’s most notable architectural structures. The tower became famous for its tilt when it was being built after the soft ground on one side of it was not able to support the structure’s weight evenly.
The tower now leans slightly less than 4 degrees due to some restoration that was completed in 2001. The iconic building is expected to collapse within the next 75-100 years. The construction of the tower started in 1173 and lasted over three centuries. The real identity of the architect behind the tower has been a hot topic of discussion – the design was originally attributed to artist Bonnano Pisano, but architect Diotisalvi is also thought to have been involved.
Taj Mahal, India
The Taj Mahal, known as “the jewel of Muslim art in India,” is here because of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. This iconic landmark, which is frequently misidentified as a palace, was actually constructed as a mausoleum for the Emperor’s wife after she passed away while giving birth to their 14th child. The Taj Mahal is considered one of the finest instances of Mughal architecture, which is a fusion of Persian, Turkish, and Indian styles. The Iconic Building’s construction started in 1632 and was accomplished in 1648. It took another five years to complete the nearby buildings and gardens. Today, everyone around the world has heard of this structure and people consider themselves lucky if they can see it in person. It is an architectural marvel and really showcases the beauty that a building can portray.
Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris
Who has not heard of this legendary cathedral, especially when you think of the fire that almost turned it into a memory? Notre Dame Cathedral is possibly the most well-known example of Gothic architecture. The construction of the world’s most famous gothic cathedral, conceived by Bishop Maurice de Sully, began in 1163 and was completed nearly 200 years later in Paris, France. The Cathedral, famous for its architectural innovations such as the rib vault and flying buttress, has survived wars, revolutions, and, most recently, a massive fire that destructed a lot of its interior and its legendary spire but left the main structure undamaged. While restoration has ceased due to COVID-19, there is no doubt that Notre Dame will be returned to its glorious past one day.
Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur
The 88-story twin structure, which stands 451.9 metres tall, is Kuala Lumpur’s crown jewel. The Petronas Twin Towers, majestic by day and dazzling by night, are influenced by Tun Mahathir Mohamad’s dream for Malaysia to be a global player. The international icon, in collaboration with master architect Cesar Pelli, potently conveys the country’s aspirations and hopes for the future. Petronas Twin Towers site planning began in January 1992, led by renowned architect Cesar Pelli, along with Deejay Cerico, J.C. Guinto, and Dominic Saibo. After passing numerous stringent testing and simulation models of wind and structural loads on the design, construction of the would-be historic monument began in April 1994. Finally, in June 1996, the steel and glass encasing of the Petronas Twin Towers were completed. The buildings, which were the world’s tallest from 1998 to 2004, are legendary monuments in the capital city. All this was possible due to the great construction work that was done using the best quality materials such as what you can purchase online from www.scrooz.com.au.
Conclusion
The wonders of the world are not always naturally formed, many are man made as well. The beautiful architectural works we see around us showcase how talented people can be and what lengths they will go to just to create something beautiful. Everybody hopes to create something that will be around long after they are gone, something that will immortalise their name and spark some semblance of recognition when it is seen. Buildings like the Taj Mahal and the Notre Dame Cathedral do just that. Yes, the creators of masterpieces are not always remembered but at least, the work of their hands will still be here meaning that a piece of them will remain forever.