Last month the Burj Dubai opened its doors for the first time as the tallest building in the world. This structure stands at 2,684 feet – yes you heard that number correctly. I was totally amazed at how big it is certainly, but was really amazed and impressed that it is 955 feet taller than the world’s second tallest building–which is the Willis Tower in Chicago.
I started to think about buildings and structures and think about what are some of the coolest/nicest/most beautiful that I have ever been in.
Here are a few that I have on my list:
- The Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco is not only a beautiful structure but the view from the top floors is amazing.
- The John Hancock Building. I truly love the structure and the fact that it towers above Lake Michigan. The views from the observatory are very special.
- A few buildings that really aren’t that tall but I enjoy going to are The Wrigley Building in Chicago and St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. I love the architecture and attention to detail that both buildings pose.
Now your turn:
- What is the tallest building you have ever been in?
- What building has the nicest view from the top floor?
- What are some of your favorite buildings for architecture?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Tara says:
My favorite building that I have been in has got to be Basilique Notre-Dame in Montreal. The artwork and architecture inside is amazing! I could sit there for hours looking at the designs and woodwork.
Stephenie Gordon says:
I am not sure on the tallest, but i think the view from the top of Rockafellar Center is wonderful! you can see all of New York.
One of my favorite buildings of all time is Wilson Library on UNC’s campus. it just makes you feel smart being surrounded by all of those beautiful books and studious lighting. I also have to say (and i am choking while saying it) is that the Duke Chapel is also gorgeous. The gothic architecture is amazing. I also love the Gugenheim museum and it’s modern feel. The High Art Museum in Atlanta has the same feel, but there is just something about the Gugenheim.
Rachel Campbell says:
http://www.darkisle.com/d/dunnottar/dunnottar1.html
You didn’t say it had to be a fully functioning and standing building, did you? Dunnottar Castle in Scotland, by far, blew me away…it is old, run down and worn out, but there is so much still standing that we got hours upon hours of wonderous exploration done in this beautiful place. We went to plenty of castles while we were in Scotland and this one, by far, was the best!
Tallest Building I have ever been in Hancock Center (totally did the Ferris Bueller view there
)
And I will be partial with the view from the top, I rather like the restaurant in the Westin in Atlanta that rotates so you can get the entire city view from your dinner table
Melanie says:
I forgot about the view from the rotating restaurant (called “The VIew”) at the top of the Marriott Marquis in New York. If it’s clear outside, the view is stunning.
Michael Halberstam says:
The Arch in St. Louis.
Melanie says:
The tallest and with the best for me was also the Hancock Building. If you’ve ever been to the ladies room in the restaurant on the top floor, you know what an amazing design and view that is.
As far as the most beautiful building, I wold have to go with St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The cathedral floor, the dome, and the crypt are so beautiful, and I can’t even give words to describe it. Pictures can’t even do it justice, but here’s a link to the site (http://www.stpauls.co.uk/Cathedral-History/Explore-the-Dome).
Louis Ygartua says:
The tallest was the Empire State building I went to as a kid, when it was THE tallest. My favorite building is the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia (it was called Leningrad, USSR when I was there). It’s the largest art museum in the world, housed in Catherine the Great’s Winter Palace. It was so ornate, in contrast to the drab Soviet life outside. Second favorite was Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany, built by Mad King Ludwig.
Rick Johnson says:
My favorite build is not “famous” globally, but in my home town (Erie, PA) we had a large department store (The Boston Store) that was very cool. Had multiple floors (wood, I think) and we would shop and see Santa on the fifth or sixth floor.
I can say that it is a favorite after all these years…fond memories and a iconic building in Erie growing up.
Nancy Cearley says:
Vienna State Opera in Austria really tops the list for me. Absolutely amazing.
The Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand was also really cool. Less for the style/design, but more for the ability to watch people bungee jump off the tower 1,000+ feet to the bottom.
Ed Sugar says:
Wow! What an interesting topic.
First things first, as a loyal baseball fan, I am putting you (Merrill) and all those other Chowds out there on 30 day suspension (lucky for ya’ll it is only early February) for not even slipping in a subtle reference to Fenway Park. It is a building/structure.
To add to the great list that already has been compiled, I would include the following:
The Space Needle (Seattle)
The Eiffel Tower (Paris)
Big Ben (London)
The Reichstag (Berlin)
Disney Hall (Los Angeles)
The Pompidou Museum (Paris)
Marina City (Chicago)
La Scala (Milan)
The White House
The Capitol Dome
The Lincoln Memorial
The Washington Memorial
Coit Tower (San Francisco)
The Golden Gate Bridge (it is a structure)
Royce Hall (on the UCLA campus)
I could go on and on, but my final selection for this list is the Price Tower in Bartlesville, OK, which is Frank Lloyd Wright’s only realized skyscraper.
Steve says:
Oh yes, the Lincoln Memorial.
And Notre Dame and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I am not Catholic, but I love gothic cathedrals anyway.
Does Stonehenge count?
Bill Priest says:
For the architecture both inside and out, I find St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhatten almost impossible to quit looking at. Runner up: the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis Assisi in Santa Fe.
chris hauck says:
Not that the building is anything special at all, but my favorite view is to go to the bar at the check in desk level at the Marriott Marquis in Manhattan and have a drink with my favorite client after a night of doing focus groups in NYC. Basking in the glow of another successfully battled project, with a good friend who appreciates my work while sipping a fantastic martini overlooking the hustle and bustle of life and seeing the product of our efforts in advertising brightly shining all around me is just heaven.
After that, I’ve always loved being in the observation room at the empire state building – the fact that it is so high and so old. lot of history and good film based on that spot. Pretty amazing view too.
Steve says:
Mont St. Michel Castle/Cathedral in Normandy. I got to stay on the island for a night. Nothing like a 500 year old hotel room.
The Guggenheim.
The Dakota.
The house I grew up in.
matt steinhaus says:
nice topic MD. good thinking.
tallest – Empire State.
best view – tie between the ESB and AMP Tower in Sydney.
favorite for architecture – Flatiron and Chrysler in NYC. concur on the Transamerica in SF at least for architecture.
i think the most amazing buidling i have ever been in all senses – especially architecture: The Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp Belgium. not even desribable.
the Royal Palce in Stockholm was almost as cool.
personal favorite bulding of all time – Phog Allen Field House in Lawrence, KS. every sports fan should find a way to attend at least on Kansas basketball game there.
Kimberly White says:
The tallest building I was ever in/on was either the World Trade Center or Toronto’s CN Tower but I have to say that my favorite city views have been from clock towers over town squares and from the tops of Mayan and Buddhist Temples over the jungles that surround them.
My favorites buildings are:
The Pyramids at Giza (Cairo, Egypt),
The Taj Mahal (Delhi, India) and
Angkor Wat (Siem Reap, Cambodia).
Will Morris says:
Many of the buildings noted above are wonderful structures with magnificent views that I have also enjoyed. However, the two buildings that left me absolutely awestruck were St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
The architecture of St. Peter’s and all history is overwhelming. In today’s world of instant gratification and “what is in it for me” mentality it caused me to imagine the thought and vision it took to construct something over a 100 year period. My parish council wouldn’t have that vision. Staring up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel enhances the remarkable work that pictures simply cannot capture.