Iconic structures, landmarks that shaped the world

The reality of the world we know now was shaped by occurrences and outcomes of many different ideas and events.

Every building that was constructed or destroyed, every land that was developed, and every road that was paved, contributed to the current shape of the world.

Listed below are 38 different structures and landmarks around the world that have influenced either the history of the world, the growth of architecture and design, or the communities around the land they were built on.

The Pantheon

Italy

The Pantheon is regarded as the oldest building in the world still in use. An architecture marvel, its design has influenced countless buildings throughout history and around the world.

The Pantheon is also known to have the largest unsupported dome in the world, a product of the great architecture and engineering skills of the ancient Roman Empire. An important feature of the Pantheon is the oculus—Latin for “eye”—which stretches 30 feet across, opening the structure to the skies.

At present, the Pantheon continues to function as a church, as well as a major tourist destination.

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The Colosseum

Italy

The Flavian Amphitheater, known as The Colosseum, is one of the most spectacular architectural monuments in the world. With a capacity of up to 80,000 people, it’s known as a venue for the blood-sport entertainment involving gladiators and wild animals that was enjoyed by ancient Rome.

Because of its solid concrete foundation, it has remained standing after 2,000 years, giving us a glimpse of the innovative architectural and engineering prowess of the Roman Empire.

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Notre Dame Cathedral

France

The Notre Dame Cathedral, built between the 12th and 13th centuries, is one of the most famous Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages and one of the world’s most beloved structures. Located on the Ile de la Cite, an island in the Seine, the cathedral’s architecture is famous for its many gargoyles and iconic flying buttresses.

A massive fire, however, engulfed the cathedral’s roof in 2019. It is currently undergoing extensive reconstruction and is expected to be reopened in December 2024.

The Tower Bridge

London

The Tower Bridge in London, which crosses the River Thames, is a defining landmark in the United Kingdom. The bridge, completed in 1894, is 244 meters long and has 65-meter-high towers. Designed by city architect Horace Jones in collaboration with John Wolfe Barry, it addressed concerns on how to build a bridge downstream from London Bridge without interfering with river traffic.

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La Sagrada Familia

Spain

The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is one of Antoni Gaudi’s most well-known masterpieces even if it’s still under construction. It’s currently one of the most visited landmarks in Europe and considered iconic for its majestic design. As a statue of Saint George watches over the Sagrada Familia, it is as if it carries the hopes and dreams of the people of Catalan to see this great structure finally completed.

Alcántara Bridge

Spain

The Bridge of Alcántara, built by the Roman Empire almost 2,000 years ago, was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Monument category by Spain in 1924. It is an important piece of architectural landmark not only for its grand design and beautiful construction but also for its strength and contribution to the community.

The bridge, which remains intact and passable, is historically relevant. It formed part of one of the routes joining Spain and Portugal. The town of Alcántara sprung up years later after the bridge was constructed. It was also key in later times for the Military Order of Alcántara in defending the town, which stands on the Portuguese border.

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Hagia Sophia

Turkey

The Hagia Sophia, or Church of Holy Wisdom, was an architectural gem of the Byzantine Empire.

It was completed in 537 A.D. and was among the world’s largest domed structures. It served as the foremost Orthodox Christian church for some 900 years.

In 2020, after 86 years, a Turkish government decree reopened the Hagia Sophia for Muslim worship. It also abolished its status as a museum.

Basilica Cistern

Turkey

The Basilica Cistern, built in 542 A.D., was once part of a network of more than 100 cisterns began by the Romans and completed by the Byzantines and Ottomans to supply the city and its palaces with running water. The historical and enduring landmark in Istanbul could store nearly 80,000 liters of water, which cascaded down aqueducts from mountains 19 kilometers to the north. This helped protect the Byzantines from summer drought.

Dōgo Onsen

Japan

With over 3,000 years of history, the Dogo Onsen is believed to be Japan’s oldest hot spring. Its current main building, known as the Honkan, was built in 1894. It resembles a Japanese castle and consists of three floors with two different baths. The Honkan is widely recognized as the inspiration behind Miyzaki’s Aburaya bathhouse in his film Spirited Away.

Tsuen Tea

Japan

Founded in 1160 in Uji, Kyoto, the Tsuen Tea is said to be the oldest operating teahouse in Japan. Its current building remains nearly unchanged since it was built in 1673. The Tsuen teashop’s traditional interior is defined by an exquisite collection of antique tea jars, a traditional kitchen well, low ceilings and exposed beams.

The Tsuen family has been serving tea in this spot for 24 generations and over many centuries, connections and references to the Tsuen family and tea shop have been made in traditional Japanese art, literature, theater, and festivals.

The Great Wall of China

China

The Great Wall of China, stretching for thousands of miles along China’s historic northern border, was built over centuries by emperors to protect their territory.

For every changing emperor, the Great Wall was fortified and continuously brought up to date as building techniques advanced. The iconic wall is now a symbol of Chinese identity, history, and culture. It is also a popular tourist destination as thousands of visitors view the wall every year.

Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge

China

The Yongji Bridge of Chengyang is an impressive, three-story structure that was built with both stone and wood. It comprises five pavilions and 19 verandas and usually serves as a welcoming architecture in front of a Dong Village. What’s unique about this is that it did not use any nails or rivets. Instead, the Dong people dove-tailed many pieces of wood to keep the bridge sturdy.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

South Korea

The Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) is one of South Korea’s most innovative and technological advanced constructions to date. It was the first public project in Korea to implement advanced three-dimensional digital construction services that ensure the highest quality and cost controls. Its façade is made up of over 45,000 aluminum panels in different sizes and curvatures. At present, it is one of the most iconic and popular buildings in Seoul.

Lotte World Tower

South Korea

The Lotte World Tower is South Korea’s tallest building and one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers at 123 stories (556 meters) high. According to architecture experts, the tower is a modern interpretation of Korean ceramics, porcelain, and calligraphy.

Located in Seoul, it is a vertical city that combines global symbolism, tradition, humans, technology, and nature. As a LEED Gold certified building, Lotte World Tower employs wind turbines, solar panels, and shading devices.

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Malagonlong Bridge

Philippines

The Spanish-era Malagonlong Bridge, also known as Puente de Malagonlong, is one of Quezon province’s historical treasures. It is considered the grandest of the 10 Spanish arch bridges in Tayabas City, Quezon. The 136-meter-long stone arch bridge, which spans the Dumacaa River between Barangay Mateuna and Lakawan, was built from 1841 to 1850. In 2011, the bridge was declared a historical site by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

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Peredo’s Lodging House

Philippines

The Peredo’s Lodging House in Baguio City is the ancestral house of Rita and Roque Peredo. Built in 1915, it was among the few structures that survived bombing attacks at the end of World War II and the devastating earthquake in 1990. In 2016, the National Museum of the Philippines installed a marker declaring Peredo’s Lodging House an “important cultural property.”

Calle Crisologo

Philippines

Calle Crisologo is a world-famous, historic street in Vigan City. The entire stretch of the street is paved with cobblestones and is home to several mixed-use residential buildings. It was inspired by Spanish Colonial architecture, with Chinese embellishments and intricate architectural details.

Balay Negrense

Philippines

Built in 1897, the Balay Negrense, also known as the Victor Fernandez Gaston Ancestral House, showcased the lifestyle of sugar barons in the 19th century—a period when Silay City in Negros Occidental was renowned as the “Paris of Negros”. It was converted into a museum in 1990 and was named by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines as a heritage house in 1994.

The Ruins

Philippines

The Ruins, dubbed as the “Taj Mahal of Negros,” is said to represent everlasting love. Located in Talisay City in Negros Occidental, the Ruins is an ancestral mansion of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson and his late wife, Cora Maria Osorio Rosa-Braga Lacson. The mansion, which sits on a 440-ha sugar plantation, was inspired by Italian architecture with its intricate arcades, balustrades, and neo-Romanesque columns.

Maria Ledesma Golez Heritage House

Philippines

The Maria Ledesma Golez Heritage House in Silay City is a tourist attraction and heritage landmark in the city. It is considered as one of the leading examples of architectural or adaptive reuse with its intricate lion heads and Art Deco elements.

Pamintuan Mansion

Philippines

Built in 1890, the Pamintuan Mansion in Angeles, Pampanga was a wedding gift for Florentino Pamintuan, who later became mayor of the city. The ancestral home was admired for its modern features at that time as it was one of the first homes that had running water in the bathrooms. It is also historically significant as it served as the headquarters of Gen. Antonio Luna and the First Philippine Republic under Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.

Cebu Taoist Temple

Philippines

The Cebu Taoist Temple, which was built in 1972, is an example of “Tsinoy” architecture, a fusion of Filipino and Chinese architecture. Initiated by the Filipino-Chinese community in Lahug, Cebu, the temple design has traditional symbols like dragons, pagoda roofs, and an entrance inspired by the Great Wall of China.

Museum of the Future

UAE

The Museum of Future in Dubai is touted as the world’s most beautiful building. Opened in 2022, the museum is a seven-story hollow silver ellipse decorated with Arabic calligraphy quotes from Dubai’s ruler. It takes pride of place on Sheikh Zayed Road, the city’s main highway.

Taj Mahal

India

The Taj Mahal is one of the most prominent and recognizable landmarks in the world. Completed in 1648 as a mausoleum for Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s late wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the architectural harmony of the structure with its environment makes it a prime destination for many people. According to experts in design, the Taj Mahal is a perfect representation of the Mughal style, which fuses architecture techniques of Persian, Islamic and Indian styles.

The Taj Mahal has inspired a lot of similar structures who wanted to replicate its style and beauty like the Taj Mahal Hotel in Dubai and the Taj Mahal in Bangladesh.

Hawa Mahal

India

The Hawa Mahal Palace is regarded as the tallest building in the world without a foundation. The five-story building managed to stay upright because of its curved shape, meant to replicate the crown of Hindu god Krishna. The name Hawa Mahal means “Palace of Breeze,” because its more than 950 honeycomb-shaped exterior windows help the natural circulation of air and keep the palace cool during hot summers.

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The Pyramids

Egypt

The pyramids are the most recognizable symbol of ancient Egypt. The ancient ruins of the Memphis area, including the Pyramids of Giza, Ṣaqqārah, Dahshūr, Abū Ruwaysh, and Abū Ṣīr, were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.

The pyramids, considered engineering feats, remain impressive monuments thousands of years after they were built. Even today scientists aren’t sure how the pyramids were exactly built and made to last. Pyramids have inspired several modern structures like the Louvre in France, the Muttart Conservatory in Canada, the Nima Sand Museum in Japan, and the Luxor Las Vegas casino and hotel in the United States.

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Christiansborg Castle

Ghana

Christiansborg Castle, also known as the Osu Castle or Fort Christiansborg, is a 17th-century castle located in the town of Osu, in Ghana’s capital Accra. This Unesco World Heritage site was the first substantial fort that was built by the Danes and has changed ownership between Denmark, Norway, Portugal, the Akwamu, Britain, and finally post-Independence Ghana.

For most of the castle’s history, it was the seat of government in Ghana. Following its independence from Britain in 1957, Christiansborg Castle was renamed Government House until the seat of government was moved to Ghana’s Jubilee House.

Jemaa El Fnaa Square

Morocco

The Jemaa El Fnaa is the main square in the City of Marrakech, Morocco in West Africa.

Over the years, it has shrunk but not disappeared due to urban evolution between the 11th and 16th centuries. Aside from being a popular meeting point between those traversing to Medina and people coming from the surrounding areas, sights like snake charmers, traditional musicians, street performers, and exotic food stalls can be seen in the Jemaa El Fnaa Square. In 2001, it was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List for its cultural and historical importance.

Guggenheim Museum

United States

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, designed by one of the most prominent American architects Frank Lloyd Wright, is one of the most iconic buildings in New York City.

The building had a controversial start because its design was out of the box at the time it was unveiled in 1959. The interior of the museum is famous for its curved walls and fluid ramp, which is 1,416 feet long and set at an 18-degree angle.

Because of its innovative design and significance to the city, the Guggenheim was named a New York City landmark after 31 years, making it one of the youngest buildings to receive that title.

Golden Gate Bridge

United States

The Golden Gate Bridge is recognized as a symbol of power and progress of the United States and is said to be the most photographed bridge in the world.

Upon completion and opening in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge was recognized as the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world. Though this has been surpassed already by other bridges, it set a precedent for suspension-bridge design around the world.

The bridge’s orange vermilion color, suggested by consulting architect Irving Morrow, has a dual function—to fit in with the surrounding natural scenery, and to make it visible to ships in fog.

Walt Disney Concert Hall

United States

The Walt Disney Concert Hall, which opened in 2003, ushered in a new era of architecture in Los Angeles. Its revolutionary stainless steel curved exterior has been an iconic sight to see amid the downtown skyline. The metallic facade though caused some problems early on due to heat and glare. Portions had to be sandblasted later on to scruff its gleam.

It’s also one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world. The concert hall has state-of-the-art acoustics of the hardwood-paneled main auditorium and can fit over 2,200 people. The hall is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Taos Pueblo

United States

Taos Pueblo in New Mexico is a remarkable example of a traditional type of architecture from the pre-Hispanic period of the Americas. Majority of these reddish structures were constructed between 1000 and 1450.

Taos is the best preserved of the pueblos north of the borders defined by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. It is currently the only World Heritage Site in the United States cited for the significance of its traditional Native American living culture.

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Empire State Building

United States

The Empire State Building is one of the most famous buildings in the world. The Art Deco skyscraper by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon was completed in 1931 and was the tallest building in the world until 1970, when the World Trade Center towers surpassed it.

Standing at 102 stories and 1,454 feet at its pinnacle, it is recognized as an important part of New York’s history and an instantly recognizable symbol of city culture today.

Absolute World

Canada

The Absolute World in Ontario, Canada is an award-winning, luxury residential building that contrasts a cityscape of boxy buildings with a structure that reminds people of “the twisting fluidity or natural lines found in life.” These skyscraper complexes were dubbed as the “Marilyn Monroe Towers” due to their curvaceous, hourglass figures reminiscent of the actress.

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Machu Picchu

Peru

The Machu Picchu was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height and is regarded as among the greatest artistic, architectural and land use achievements anywhere.

Built in the 15th century, this Unesco World Heritage property covers 32,592 ha of mountain slopes, peaks and valleys surrounding its heart. It was later abandoned when the Inca Empire was conquered by the Spaniards in the 16th century. It was not until 1911 that the archaeological complex was made known to the outside world.

Machu Picchu has about 200 buildings, made of individually shaped pieces of carved gray granite stone. The Incans followed a rigorous city plan that separated the farming from residential areas, with a large square between the two.

Teatro Amazonas

Brazil

Located in Largo de São Sebastião in downtown Manaus, the Teatro Amazonas was born from the riches of the rubber trade during the golden age of the Amazonian capital.

Opened on New Year’s Eve December 1896, the Teatro embraced renaissance-style grandeur in both interior and exterior design. Italian marble for the stairs and the columns, Parisian furnishings, and British steel were imported to ensure the highest quality. The roofing tiles, which were imported from Alsace, were laid out in the color of the Brazilian flag.

Bahá’í Temple

Chile

Located just outside of Santiago, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains is the Bahá’í Temple. Recognized as an architectural wonder, this unique structure was commissioned by the religious Bahá’í Community and embodies “technological innovation and architectural excellence.

The temple has nine wing-like panels of translucent cast glass subtly spiral to form its dome, converging 90 feet above the ground with a clear glass oculus holding a Bahá’í symbol known as “the greatest name.” Another technical feat was the installation of a pendulum isolation system to make the building resistant to seismic activity.

Sydney Opera House

Australia

The Sydney Opera House, included in the Unesco World Heritage List, is known as the symbol of modern Australia. Considered a great architectural work of the 20th century, it’s famous for its series of vaulted structures that resemble billowing white sails or stacked shells. Its roof is also covered with more than a million Swedish roof tiles that are reflective and change color as the day goes on, mirroring the sky.

The Opera House first opened its doors in 1973 and up to today, it remains an integral part of Sydney through its contribution to culture, heritage, sustainability and tourism.

Sources: Inquirer Archives, Reuters, New York Times, BBC, CNN, Associated Free Press, National Geographic, britannica.com, pna.gov.ph, whc.unesco.org, nps.gov, history.com, lonelyplanet.com, ladowntownnews.com, untolditaly.com, archdaily.com, guggenheim.org, architecturaldigest.com, visitghana.com, towerbridge.org.uk, dubaifuture.ae, 50absoluteworld.ca, lottepnd.com, stefanoboeriarchitetti.net, christiansborgarchaeologicalheritageproject.org, jemaa-elfnaa.com, sydneyoperahouse.com, turismotajointernacional.es, turismocaceres.org, travelandleisure.com, japantoday.com, theculturetrip.com, laphil.com, discover-peru.org, latinroutes.co.uk, world-architects.com