Architecture is the face of every city. For certain buildings that stand out from the rest, stand out from stereo types we can say that they represent the soul of a place, and represent works of art. This is not a list of most beautiful constructions in the world, because many churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, houses, skyscrapers, theaters, museums and hotels would also find their place among top 10.
This list represents those buildings that are according to their construction and message they send remained striking even until today. They radiate some sort of mystique, and looking at them instils fear and respect.
10INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
Space station launched in 1998, the 72.8m 450.000kg artificial satellite has been continuously occupied by astronauts from 15 nations. Reportedly the most expensive item ever constructed – at 160 billion dollar.
09CHRIST THE REDEEMER
A 30m statue 220 steps up the 710m Corcovado Hill, constructed from 1922-23, the facial feature have been worn off by wind and rain.
08CAYAN TOWER
Cayan Tower is the world’s tallest tower, which has twist of 90 degrees. The 75-story building is 310m high, with each floor rotated by 1.2 degrees.
07AQUA DOM
A 25m transparent elevator built inside a one million liter fish tank. It houses 1.500 fish of 97 different species requiring 8kg of food a day.
06BANAUE RICE TERRACES
2000 year-old terraces carved into the Ifugao Mountains, covering 10.360km2, they could encircle almost half the world if put end to end.
05AKASHI KAIKYO BRIDGE
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is a 3.911m bridge completed in 1998 and connecting Kobe city to Iwaya city. It has the longest central span of any suspension bridge in the world.
04POTALAPALACE
Potala Palace is the world’s highest ancient palace, located on Mount Moburi at 3.700m above sea level. 13 stories high, it has over 1.000 rooms, built in the 7th century.
03BOROBUDUR TEMPLE
A30m high temple built 1.200 years ago using 2 million stones. With over 500 Buddha statues and 3.000 bas-relief sculptures it was mysteriously abandoned in the 1500s.
02THREE GORGES DAM
The world’s largest capacity hydroelectric power station is 2.335 long. To fill the reservoir requires 42 billion tons water a process that slow the Earth’s rotation.
01TEMPLE OF KARNAK
Temple of Karnak was built around 1570 – 1100 BC it is big enough to house the world’s three largest cathedrals at once. The Hypostyle Hall is the largest religion room in the world at 5.017m2.