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For most people, construction may seem pretty routine. You start with a foundation, build on top of it and add a roof. Interior design may be a little more exciting, but there isn’t usually a lot of uniqueness when it comes to constructing buildings. However, there are many construction companies and building designers who are thinking outside the box when it comes to construction. These four projects demonstrate just how unique a building can be.
Agora Garden Tower
Designed by Vincent Callebaut, the Agora Garden Tower is a double-helix shaped hotel designed to absorb 130 tons of carbon dioxide per year. Taiwan, a small island suffers from poor air quality due to the mountains that surround it and pollution emitted from nearby China.
The building uses rooftop solar panels and has vegetable and flower gardens as well as orchards. The building was completed in 2017 and is known in Taiwan as the Tao Zhu Yin Yuan, which translates to “the Retreat of Tao Zhu.” The building was modeled after a strand of DNA and represents a unique concept of sustainable construction designed to reduce carbon footprints.
Lotus Temple
The Lotus Temple, built in 1986, is a Bahai house of worship and is one of only seven major Bahai temples in the world. The structure was designed by Furiburz Sabha who chose the lotus as it is a symbol used in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism as well as the Islamic faith. There are nine pools of water which light with natural light, creating a stunning look at dusk when floodlights are lit.
The building is made of marble and has a capacity of 2,500. The land was donated by Ardishir Rustampur of Hyderabad who, in 1953, gave his life savings for the construction of the temple. However, it was not until 1976 that the temple was designed, and it is one of the first in Delhi to use solar power.
Milwaukee Art Museum
Actually consisting of three buildings designed by three different architects, the Milwaukee Art Museum brings to mind the Sydney Opera House in Australia, but on a much smaller scale. Like the iconic building recognized by real estate specialists, like KDD Conveyancing Services, architects and citizens alike on Sydney’s waterfront, Milwaukee’s art museum features architecture that is artistic as the works housed inside.
The most recognizable section of the museum, designed by Santiago Calatrava is the Quadracci Pavilion with a moveable sunscreen that folds and unfolds twice each day. The War Memorial Center, which is shaped like a floating cross, is also part of the complex.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Museum
Known throughout the world, the Louvre in Paris houses some of the greatest works of art of all time. In 2007, Abu Dhabi and the Louvre entered an agreement to open another Louvre in the United Arab Emirates. The deal cost Abu Dhabi approximately $1.3 billion for the use of the Louvre name, the loaning of many works of art and the establishment of several exhibitions.
Construction began on the museum I 2009, opening in November 2017. The museum was designed by Jean Nouvel whose vision was a silvery dome floating above the city. Despite the fact that the dome appears to be weightless, it actually weighs the same as Paris’ Eiffel Tower. It is a complex series of stars, repeated in eight different layers so that light filters through to create an inspiring effect inside.
Although there are hundreds of architectural marvels throughout the world, these four stand out as masterpieces. Their unique look, unusual design and breathtaking beauty were created not only as buildings but as environmentally-friendly works of art.
