Monuments of Russia. Great monuments of Russia

1. Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is located in Sydney (Australia) in the harbor at Bennelong Point. The theater is a symbol of Sydney and one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. The construction of the theater began in 1959. The architect of the theater is the Dane Jorn Utzon. The opening of the theater took place on October 20, 1973. In 2007, the theater was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain attended the opening. 102 million Australian dollars were spent on the construction, instead of the originally planned 7 million.

2. burj al arab

Burj Al Arab (literally "Arab Tower") is a luxury hotel in Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates. Construction began in 1994. The hotel was opened on December 1, 1999. Known as the only 7-star hotel in the world. Designed by architect Tom Wright Atkinson. It looks like a dhow sail, an Arab ship. The height of the building is 321 meters.

3. Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa ("Khalifa Tower") is a skyscraper 828 meters high with 163 floors. It is shaped like a stalagmite. Construction of the skyscraper began in 2004. In 2009, the building was finally ready, but it was officially opened only on January 4, 2010. The building was designed by the American architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. It is currently the tallest man-made structure in the world.

4. Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia (full name: "Sagrada Familia Expiatory Temple", Cat. Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família) is a Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, ​​in the Eixample district, Spain. It is famous for the fact that its construction began in 1882 and has not yet been completed. The expected completion date for construction is 2026. The most famous project of the architect Antoni Gaudí. In 2010, the temple was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

5. Walt Disney Concert Hall

The Walt Disney Concert Hall is the newest concert venue in Los Angeles and home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. The initiator of the project was the widow of Walt Disney Lillian. In 1987, she donated $50 million to build a new concert hall. The architect of the project was the famous Frank Gehry. The project was ready by 1991, but full-scale construction began in 1999. The opening of the concert hall took place 4 years later, in 2003. The total cost of the project is estimated at $274 million.

6. The Shard

The Shard (The Shard London Bridge, which translated into Russian means "Shard of Glass" or simply "Shard") is a skyscraper in London, United Kingdom. Construction of the building began in 2009. The opening took place on July 5, 2012. The building was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano. The shape of the building, as the name implies, resembles a piece of glass. With a height of 309 meters, it is the tallest building not only in London, but throughout the European Union.

7. Big Ben

Big Ben is the name of the largest of the six bells of the Palace of Westminster in London, often referred to as the clock and the clock tower as a whole. The tower itself was renamed in September 2012 to "Elizabeth Tower". The tower was erected in 1858 according to the project of Augustus Pugin, an English architect. The height of the tower is 96.3 meters. The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster is the most recognizable symbol of Great Britain.

8. Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum-mosque located in Agra, India, on the banks of the Jumna River. It was built at the direction of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and was completed in 1653. The building is recognized as the best example of Mughal architecture, combining elements of Persian, Indian and Islamic styles. Since 1983, it has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

9. Coliseum

The Colosseum (from lat. colosseus - huge, colossal) or the Flavian Amphitheater (lat. Amphitheatrum Flavium) - an amphitheater, an architectural monument of Ancient Rome, the most famous and one of the most grandiose structures of the ancient world that have survived to our time. Located in Rome, Italy, in a hollow between the Esquiline, Palatine and Caeli hills. The construction of the Colosseum was started in 72 AD. under the emperor Vespasian, and completed in 80 AD. under Emperor Titus. The Colosseum was used for gladiator fights, battles, hunting and executions. It can accommodate 50-80 thousand people.

10. chrysler building

The Chrysler Building is a skyscraper of the Chrysler Corporation. It is a symbol of New York, located in the eastern part of Manhattan at the intersection of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue. The Chrysler Building was started in 1928 and completed in 1930. Built in Art Deco style. The building was designed by William van Elen. It was the tallest building in the world until 1931.

11. St. Basil's Cathedral

St. Basil's Cathedral, also called the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, on the Moat or the Pokrovsky Cathedral, is an Orthodox church located on Red Square in Moscow. Construction began in 1555 and completed in 1561. The world-famous monument of Russian architecture and the symbol of Moscow. Built by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible in tribute to the memory of the victories in the struggle for Kazan. Until the 17th century it was called the Trinity Cathedral. In fact, this is not one cathedral, but a whole architectural complex consisting of eight churches (four axial, four smaller ones between them), which are crowned with onion domes. All of them are grouped around the main, ninth, pillar-shaped church in honor of the Intercession of the Mother of God with a hipped dome. At present, all churches have a common foundation (although they were built gradually) and are united by a whole network of vaulted passages. The height of the cathedral is 65 meters. The total number of domes is 11. In 1588, 10 churches were added to the cathedral from the northeast.

12. Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower (fr. la tour Eiffel) is the most famous and recognizable architectural landmark of Paris, a symbol of France. Built in 1889. The tower was named after the designer and architect Gustave Eiffel, who designed it. The tower is 324 meters high and weighs 10,100 tons. For more than 40 years, the tower has been the tallest building in the world. There are 1792 steps leading to the tower. Of course, there are also elevators.

13. leaning tower of pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italian: Torre pendente di Pisa) is a bell tower, part of the ensemble of the city's Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in the city of Pisa, Italy. The construction of the tower stretched from 1173 to 1360, i.e. for almost 200 years. The author of the project is Bonnano Pisano. World famous for its leaning, which earned it the nickname "The Leaning Tower". The height of the tower is 55.86 meters from the ground on the lowest side and 56.7 meters on the highest. The angle of the turret is currently 3o 54'. The slope of the Leaning Tower of Pisa may be due to the softness of the soil, the unreliability or disproportion of the foundation, the erosion of the soil under the tower during construction. It was possible to stabilize the tower thanks to the work carried out at the end of the last and the beginning of the present century.

14. House Mila

House Mila (cat. Casa Mila) is a residential building, which is one of the attractions of Barcelona, ​​Spain. Also known as "Pedrera", which means "stone quarry". Designed by architect Antonio Gaudí. Built in 1906 - 1910 of the XX century. The project of the Mila house was innovative for its time: a well-thought-out system of natural ventilation allows you to abandon air conditioners, interior partitions in each of the apartments can be moved at your discretion, there is an underground garage. Almost every room in the house has a window into which daylight enters. The building has no load-bearing walls or supports. Their functions are performed by load-bearing columns. In 1984, Mila's house was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and became the first building of the 20th century in it.

15. Sultanahmet Mosque

The Blue Mosque or Sultanahmet Mosque (tur. Sultanahmet Camii) is a mosque located on the shores of the Sea of ​​Marmara in the historical center of Istanbul, Turkey. It was built between 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Ahmed I. The architect of the mosque is Sedefkar Mehmet Aga. The mosque has a main dome 43 meters high, 6 minarets. Light enters through 260 windows. It received the name "Blue Mosque" due to the huge number (more than 20 thousand) of handmade white and blue ceramic tiles from Iznik, which were used in interior decoration. It is considered an outstanding example of Islamic and world architecture.

16. White House

The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States, located in Washington, DC. Construction was completed in 1800. John Adams became the first owner of the White House. The building was designed by Irish architect James Hoban. The mansion was built in the Palladian style. All US presidents lived in the White House, with the exception of George Washington, because during the years of his reign (1789-1797) the building was only under construction. In August 1814, the White House was burned down by the British, after which it was reconstructed and restored.

17. Jin Mao Tower

Jin Mao Tower (literally "Golden Prosperity Tower") - one of the tallest skyscrapers in Asia, is a hallmark of Shanghai, China. The skyscraper was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. The official opening of the building took place on August 28, 1998. The height of the building is 421 meters. The structure of the building includes a high-tech structural system that can withstand the force of hurricane winds up to 200 km/h and earthquake magnitude 7. The outer wall is made of glass, stainless steel, aluminum and granite and is covered with a lattice structure, which is made of pipes and aluminum alloy. On the upper floors is the five-star Grand Hyatt hotel.

18. Louvre glass pyramid

The glass pyramid of the Louvre in the courtyard of Napoleon serves as the main entrance to the Louvre and is one of the symbols of Paris. The construction of the Louvre pyramid took place from 1985 to 1989. The architect was Bei Yuming. The height of the pyramid is 21.65 meters, the length of the base is 35 meters, the angle of inclination is 52o. Around the large pyramid are three smaller pyramids that act as portholes. The faces of the pyramids consist entirely of glass segments (603 diamond-shaped and 70 triangular). Fountains are arranged around the large pyramid.

19. Palace of Parliament

The Palace of the Parliament (Rom. Palatul Parlamentului) is a famous architectural monument located in Bucharest, Romania. Construction began in 1984 by order of Nicolae Ceausescu. The construction was completed in 1989, but some imperfections in the palace still remain, in fact, its construction and decoration have not been completed. The palace is the largest civil building in the world and also the heaviest. The dimensions of the palace are 270 by 240 meters. Height - 86 meters. The underground part of the palace goes 92 meters deep. The palace has 1100 rooms with a total area of ​​350,000 m2, 12 floors.

20. CN Tower

CN Tower (eng. CN Tower) is a television, radio broadcasting and observation tower located in Toronto, Canada. Landmark and symbol of Toronto. The construction of the tower was carried out from 1973 to 1976. The height of the tower is 553.33 meters. Was the tallest building until 2007. Originally owned by the railway company, which built the tower. CN stands for Canada's National.

Architectural monuments are objects that were created, as a rule, in honor of a significant event or an important person. The age of some is calculated in tens of years, while others still remember the Egyptian pharaohs. This review contains the most famous architectural monuments about which you can write the history of mankind.

1. Kaaba (Masjid al-Haram)


The Kaaba (Masjid al-Haram) is a cube-shaped building located in Mecca.

The Kaaba (Masjid al-Haram) is a cube-shaped building located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is considered the most sacred place in Islam, as well as the oldest and most famous cultural monument in the world.


Muslim shrine Kaba.

The Qur'an states that the Kaaba was built by Abraham (Ibrahim in Arabic) and his son Ismail after the latter settled in Arabia. A mosque, the Masjid al-Haram, was built around this building. All Muslims around the world turn to face the Kaaba during prayers, no matter where they are.


Pilgrims at Kaba.

One of the five basic laws of Islam requires every Muslim to make the Hajj - a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life. In this case, the Kaaba must be circumvented seven times counterclockwise (when viewed from above).

2. Taj Mahal


White marble mausoleum located in the city of Agra, India.

The Taj Mahal ("Crown of Palaces") is a white marble mausoleum located in the city of Agra, India. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely regarded as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the world's recognized masterpieces of world heritage". The area of ​​the Taj Mahal is about 221 hectares (38 hectares are occupied by the mausoleum itself and 183 hectares by the protected forest around it).

3. Egyptian pyramids


Pyramids of Egypt.

A total of 138 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt. Most of them were built as tombs for pharaohs and their wives during the Old and Middle Kingdoms. These are one of the oldest famous cultural monuments.


View of the Egyptian pyramids from above.

The earliest known Egyptian pyramids were found at Saqqara, northwest of Memphis. And the oldest of them is the Pyramid of Djoser, built in 2630-2611 BC. e., during the third dynasty. This pyramid and the complex surrounding it were designed by the architect Imhotep and are generally considered to be the world's oldest monumental structures made of bricks with facings.

4. Great Wall of China


The great Wall of China.

The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, rammed earth, wood, and other materials built along China's historic northern borders to protect the country from incursions by various warlike peoples.


Sculptures on the Great Wall of China.

Several walls were built as early as the 7th century BC and were later added to form what is today known as the Great Wall. Particularly famous is the part of the wall built between 220-206 BC. the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang (very little remains of her).

By the way, in the Middle Kingdom there are many more beautiful and interesting places in China that are worth seeing with your own eyes.

5. Angkor Thom (Greater Angkor)


Capital of the Khmer Empire

Angkor Thom is a 3 square kilometer walled royal city that was the last capital of the Khmer Empire. After Jayavarman VII retook Yashodharapura (the previous capital) from the invaders from Champa in 1181, he built a new imperial capital on the site of the ruined city. He started with existing surviving structures such as Bapuon and Thimeanakas and built a majestic walled city around them, adding a moated outer wall and some of the greatest temples of Angkor. There are five entrances (gates) to the city, one for each cardinal direction and the Gate of Victory leading to the area of ​​the Royal Palace. Each gate is crowned with four gigantic faces.

6. Acropolis of Athens


athenian acropolis

The Acropolis of Athens, also called "Kekropia" in Athens, is the most important site of the city and one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. This is the main landmark of ancient Greek culture, as well as the symbol of the city of Athens itself, since it represents the apogee of artistic development in the 5th century BC.

7. Chiang Kai-shek National Memorial Hall


Memorial to Chiang Kai-shek

The Chiang Kai-shek National Memorial Hall is a famous monument and local landmark erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. It is located in the Chinese city of Taipei. The monument, surrounded by a park, was built in the eastern part of Memorial Square. To the north is the National Theatre, and to the south is the National Concert Hall.

8. Potala Palace


Potala Palace

The Potala Palace is located in the city of Lhasa in Tibet. It is named after Mount Potalaka, the mythical abode of Chenrezig or Avalokiteshvara. The Potala Palace was the main residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India, during the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959.

Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, the fifth Grand Dalai Lama, began construction of the Potala Palace in 1645 after one of his spiritual advisors, Konchog Chopel, noted that the location between Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa was ideal for the seat of government. The Potala was eventually built on the remains of an earlier fortress, called the White or Red Palace, built by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet in 637. Today the Potala Palace is a museum.

9. Statue of Liberty


Statue of Liberty in the USA.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States of America, and it is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was unveiled on October 28, 1886, and in 1924 it was recognized as a National Monument.

10. Sultan Ahmed Mosque


The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a historic mosque in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city and the capital of the Ottoman Empire from 1453 to 1923. It is also commonly known as the "Blue Mosque" because of the blue tiles that line its walls.


Mosque interior.

The mosque was built from 1609 to 1616 during the reign of Ahmed I. Although it is still used as a mosque, the site has also become a popular tourist attraction.

7 chose

The Moscow Kremlin and Red Square, the historical center of St. Petersburg, the white stone monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal, the Kremlin of Rostov the Great, the Kizhi Churchyard, Peterhof, Solovki, the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the Nizhny Novgorod, Kolomna and Pskov Kremlin are the famous historical monuments of Russia, the list of which can be continued and further. Russia is a country with a huge cultural past, its history still keeps many secrets and mysteries, every stone of ancient Russian cities and monasteries breathes history, behind every human destiny. These autumn days, the multimedia project-competition "Russia 10" is coming to an end, giving us the opportunity to learn about the most famous and beautiful places in our country and in the first place - the main historical monuments of Russia, the wonders of architecture and architecture, the magical creations of the hands of Russian masters.

Kizhi

On one of the islands of Lake Onega in Karelia, the famous Kizhi churchyard is located: two wooden churches of the 18th century. and an octagonal wooden bell tower (1862). The architectural ensemble of Kizhi is an ode to Russian craftsmen, the pinnacle of carpentry, "wooden lace". According to legend, the Church of the Transfiguration was built with one ax, which the master threw into Lake Onega, finishing his work without a single nail. Kizhi is the real Eighth wonder of the world.

The main historical value of Russia is the hands of its masters...

Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon

The Moscow Kremlin is a real treasury of monuments of Russian history and culture. Some of them are the Tsar Bell and the Tsar Cannon. They are famous not only for their size, but also for their amazing history…

The Tsar Bell was ordered to be cast by Empress Anna Ioannovna. At her request, foreign craftsmen were supposed to do this, but when they heard the required dimensions of the bell, they considered the desire of the empress ... a joke! Well, who cares, and who cares. The father and son of Motorina, the bell-maker, set to work. It was not so long that they created a project, as the approval of the Moscow Senate office that followed it, which lasted as much as 3 years! The first attempt to cast the bell was unsuccessful and ended in an explosion and destruction of the furnace structure, and after that one of the craftsmen, Father Ivan Motorin, died. The second casting of the bell happened to be carried out by the master's son Mikhail Motorin, and three months later, on November 25, 1735, the birth of the famous bell took place. The bell weighed about 202 tons, its height was 6 meters 14 centimeters, and its diameter was 6 meters 60 centimeters.

They took a piss, but they did not raise it! During a fire in 1737, a piece of the bell, which was still in the smelting pit, broke off - weighing more than 11 tons. The Tsar Bell was raised from the casting pit only in 1836, thanks to Montferrand, who knew a lot about lifting heavy structures. However, Russia did not hear the voice of the Tsar Bell ...

Tsar Cannon on Ivanovskaya Square is considered a monument to Russian artillery. The length of the bronze gun is 5 meters 34 centimeters, the barrel diameter is 120 centimeters, the caliber is 890 millimeters, and the weight is almost 40 tons. The formidable weapon was supposed to protect the Moscow Kremlin from the side of the Execution Ground, but, according to weapons specialists, in its power it was suitable for destroying the fortress walls, but not for defense. Cast by the famous caster Andrei Chokhov in 1586 under Fyodor Ivanovich, she never took part in the hostilities. According to legend, it was shot only once - with the ashes of False Dmitry.

Mother Russia, everything is special for her - and the tsar cannon does not shoot and the tsar bell does not sound the gospel ...

Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God

On the day of the Intercession of the Mother of God in 1552, Russian troops stormed Kazan, the capital of the Kazan Khanate. Ivan the Terrible, in honor of this event, ordered the construction of the Church of the Intercession in Moscow. How many legends and legends are associated with him ...

Previously, another church stood on this site - the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity, where St. Basil the Blessed, the most revered fool in Russia, who collected alms for the construction of this temple, rested. Later, others began to build around the Trinity Church - in honor of the most significant victories of Russian weapons. When there were already about ten of them, the Moscow Metropolitan Macarius came to Ivan the Terrible with a request to build one large church on this site.

The central tent of the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God was the first to be consecrated, then a small church was completed on the grave of the holy fool, and the temple began to be called St. Basil's Cathedral. The cathedral symbolizes the Heavenly Jerusalem - its 8 chapters create the eight-pointed star of Bethlehem. According to legend, at the end of construction, which lasted 6 years, the king, delighted with the unprecedented beauty of the temple, asked the builders if they could do something like that. The retribution for an affirmative answer was the blinding of the masters by order of the sovereign, so that there was nothing more beautiful on earth ....

Several times they tried to destroy the Temple, services in it were forbidden and allowed again, but it withstood for centuries, as the Russian land withstood all troubles.

The Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God is a beautiful and many-sided Holy Russia.

Peter-Pavel's Fortress

The Peter and Paul Fortress is the core of the city on the Neva, a historical, architectural and military engineering monument, one of the main symbols of Russian history. It was from Petropavlovka on May 16, 1703 that the construction of the city of Peter began. All of it is history, the history of wars and revolutions, faith and love. Its bastions bear the names of the associates of Peter the Great: Menshikov, Golovkin, Zotov, Trubetskoy, Naryshkin and Sovereign bastions.

In the center of the fortress is the Peter and Paul Cathedral - a symbol of the formation of a new city in Russia. It contains the history of the Imperial House of the Romanovs, the cathedral became the necropolis of Russian emperors, where their ashes from Peter I to Nicholas II are buried. Near the walls of the Cathedral is the Commandant's Cemetery, where 19 commandants of the Peter and Paul Fortress (out of 32 who served it) are buried.

The fortress was both the defense of the Northern capital and its state prison: the prisoners of the Trubetskoy bastion were Tsarevich Alexei, the Decembrists, Chernyshevsky, Kostsyushko and Dostoevsky, Narodnaya Volya, ministers of the Russian Empire, Social Revolutionaries and Bolsheviks.

Petropavlovka, like Russia itself, is both an intercessor and a prison, but, nevertheless, the Motherland ...

Monument "Millennium of Russia"

The Millennium of Russia monument was erected in Veliky Novgorod in front of the St. Sophia Cathedral and the former building of the Offices in 1862 in honor of the millennial anniversary of the legendary calling of the Varangians to Russia. The anniversary of its opening is celebrated in these September days.

Authors of the monument project: sculptors Mikhail Mikeshin, Ivan Shroeder and architect Viktor Hartman. To create a monument-symbol of the history of Russia, a competition was announced, for which several dozen works were submitted. The project of young sculptors - M. O. Mikeshin, who graduated from the Academy just a year ago, and I. N. Schroeder, a volunteer student of the sculptural class of the Academy of Arts, won.

While people involved in construction and design are celebrating their professional holiday - World Architecture Day, we will present the most interesting and unusual works of modern architects and their predecessors.

Blocks Habitat-67, Montreal

The unique residential complex was built in 1967 for the Expo. The 354 interconnected houses are not arranged randomly, but in such a way that all apartments receive maximum sunlight. The style of this object - brutalism, by the way, became popular in the USSR.

Projects by Friedensreich Hundertwasser

It is very difficult to choose any one work of this iconic architect, because they are all amazing in their own way. His "fabulous" style does not fall under any of the classical concepts - the great Austrian designed "good" and even "kind" houses. Here, for example, is an ordinary residential, which everyone simply calls the Hundertwasser house. It is not surprising that the author of such architecture has always fundamentally worn different socks.

Ideal Palace, France

The unremarkable town of Hauterives glorified the local postman at the beginning of the 20th century. Ferdinand Cheval spent 33 years building his own palace from improvised materials - stones that he collected while working. Ferdinand had absolutely no understanding of the canons of architecture and used every style he could see. Therefore, in the "Ideal Palace", as the author himself called it, there are elements from the Ancient to Gaudi.

Lotus Temple, India

In 1986, one of the most unusual buildings in the world was built in New Delhi. Giant marble lotus leaves seem to be about to bloom. They even created almost natural conditions for the flower - the temple, like a real lotus, rises from the water. Although this is a religious building, there are no icons, no frescoes, no murals inside: these attributes are not important in the Bahá'í teachings.

Cologne Cathedral, Germany

The canonical example of Gothic, known far beyond the "architectural circles". Of course, we will not describe the numerous details of the huge building. Let's limit ourselves to one fact: in 1880, when the next stage of construction was completed, the cathedral became the tallest building on the planet for four years - 157 meters. But even today, surrounded by low-rise buildings in the center of Cologne, the cathedral still looks impressive.

Burj Khalifa, UAE

In recent decades, the title of the tallest building in the world has been literally a passing banner: then Taipei, then Kuala Lumpur. Of course, the emirates could not pass by such a competition and decided to set their own record. Along the way, "" won more than ten nominations, for example, as the owner of the fastest elevator and the highest located nightclub (on the 144th floor).)

Temple of the Dancing God, India

The famous Indian temple of Brihadeshvara, which recently celebrated its millennium, is dedicated to Shiva. In total, there are 250 statues of this god inside the temple, and they all depict different poses of a magical dance. Previously, the temple was also a fortress, therefore, in addition to graceful statues, there are also serious defensive structures. The moats and walls guard the legendary riches that pilgrims carried to Shiva for centuries.

Bird's Nest Stadium, Beijing

The Olympic Games for architects is a great chance to make their dreams come true: the authorities do not skimp on bold and expensive projects. From the 2008 Olympics, we got a stadium for 80,000 people of a completely unusual shape. Although not even the form is remarkable, but the execution of giant iron beams - the airy translucent structure can withstand an eight-magnitude earthquake.

Chrysler Building, New York

One of the best examples of Art Deco and the tallest skyscraper in the middle of the 20th century was built by order of the Chrysler automobile company. It became the tallest thanks to the irreconcilable rivalry of the two architects: the author of this building at the last moment before the completion of construction agreed on the installation of a 40-meter spire, thereby overtaking the new Trump Building. And unusual arcs on the facades of the upper floors imitate car wheels.

Capsule House, Japan

The combination of Japanese minimalism and love for new technologies gave the world a unique project - a capsule residential building. All modules (apartments and offices) in this building are completely replaceable and are attached to the metal base with just four bolts. Despite the visual fragility of such a system, there have been no accidents since its construction in 1974.

Ring houses, China

Unusual round houses-fortresses appeared a long time ago, and they stopped building only in the 1960s. Prior to this, dwellings on the principle of a closed system were erected in many areas. The lack of land and the ability to defend together pushed people to settle in communes in several such houses. And the microclimate inside protected from heat and cold.

Southernmost Orthodox Church

This building differs not in design or size, but only in the place where it is located. Not far from the Russian Antarctic station Bellingshausen in 2004, the wooden church of the Holy Trinity was consecrated. And the logs for the church have probably come the longest way in the history of building materials logistics: Gorny Altai-Kaliningrad-Antarctica.

The most secret office building, USA

The most inaccessible office building in the world is also the largest. This is the famous Pentagon - the building of the Ministry of Defense. In a huge pentagonal building - 28 km of corridors, and the area of ​​​​all five floors - 604,000 sq.m. This giant was built in the 1940s, so there was a small incident: the toilets in the building were twice as large as necessary - separately for blacks, separately for whites. True, by the end of construction, the old order was canceled and they did not even have time to hang signs.

Pool in the sky, Singapore

The three towers of the Marina Bay Sands high-rise hotel support a truly unique architectural structure - a huge platform shaped like a ship. On the "deck" is a living garden and a giant swimming pool. By the way, the entire design of the hotel is officially approved by Feng Shui experts.

City on a rock, Sri Lanka

A real fortress city was erected by ancient architects on a sheer 300-meter rock of Sigiriya. King Kasapa I ordered to build his residence at such a height for protection, but did not forget about comfort. Covered terraces, benches, trees, and even an artificial pond made Sigiriya a luxury retreat. In addition to official historical monuments, the tradition so beloved by our compatriots is also interesting: starting from the 7th century, guests of the palace left inscriptions on the rocks like “Vasya was here, 879”, only in verse.

: it was there that the leading architects of Russia lived and worked. However, they also built buildings in other cities. 10 buildings of the Russian hinterland from architects of the first magnitude - in the selection of the Kultura.RF portal.

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rostov-on-Don

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Architect Konstantin Ton. 1854–1860 Photo: Dmitry Artemiev / Wikipedia

In the middle of the 19th century, Konstantin Ton was one of the most famous domestic architects. He mainly worked in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but among his works there are buildings in other cities. In 1854–1860, a church was erected in Rostov-on-Don according to Ton's standard design. The neo-Byzantine-style five-domed church is very similar to other buildings of the architect - the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior, as well as the unpreserved Vvedensky Cathedral in St. Petersburg and Svyatodukhovsky in Petrozavodsk.

The temple was built with the money of local merchants. Konstantin Ton himself did not participate in the construction of the Rostov Cathedral - the work was supervised by the architect Alexander Kutepov, and the 75-meter bell tower was later built by Anton Campioni. In Soviet times, a zoo worked on the territory of the temple, and a warehouse was located in the church itself.

Bank of the Rukavishnikovs in Nizhny Novgorod

The building of the former profitable house of the Rukavishnikovs. Architect Fedor Shekhtel. 1911–1913 Photo: Igor Lijashkov / photo bank "Lori"

Fedor Shekhtel designed Moscow buildings in the Art Nouveau style: the Ryabushinsky mansion, the mansion on Spiridonovka and others. And in Nizhny Novgorod, he designed a banking complex and an apartment building. His customers were the Rukavishnikovs, representatives of one of the richest local dynasties.

The facade of the building was decorated by Shekhtel with white glazed tiles from Villeroy Bosh and floral ornaments. Another metropolitan master, Sergei Konenkov, participated in the creation of the sculptural decoration. He created cast-iron figures of a man and a woman placed above the entrance, symbolizing the union of industry and agriculture. Shops were located on the first floor of the building, branches of the Russian Commercial and Industrial Bank were located on the second and third.

Spassky Old Fair Cathedral in Nizhny Novgorod

The creator of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Auguste Montferrand, also influenced the formation of the architectural appearance of Nizhny Novgorod. In 1818–1822, he built here the five-domed Spassky Old Fair Cathedral in the classicist style. The famous engineer Augustine Betancourt became the co-author of Montferrand.

The iconostasis for the church was made by the Italian artist Torricelli. It was decorated with murals according to the canons of European art: some of the characters had exposed parts of their bodies. This was very embarrassing for local God-fearing merchants, many of them even took their icons to the temple and prayed only to them. It was decided to order a new iconostasis - it was created for the Old Fair Church by the architect Vasily Stasov.

Boris and Gleb Monastery in Torzhok

Borisoglebsky Monastery. Architect Nikolay Lvov. 1785–1796 Photo: Alexander Shchepin / photobank "Lori"

The Borisoglebsky Cathedral of the monastery of the same name in Torzhok was built according to the project of Nikolai Lvov in 1796 on the site of the destroyed old temple. The first bricks in its foundation were laid personally by Catherine II. The construction was supervised by the local architect Franz Butsi. The domes of the five-domed Borisoglebsky Cathedral are crowned with gilded balls with openwork crosses; the altar for it was built in the form of a rotunda. According to the researchers, according to Lvov's project, the monastery gate church-bell tower was also erected.

Manor Gorodnya in the Kaluga region

The Kaluga estate of Natalya Golitsyna - the famous "mustached princess" who became the prototype of Pushkin's Queen of Spades - was built according to the design of Andrei Voronikhin. In the 1790s, he was still a young architect who had just received his freedom from Count Stroganov. Voronikhin continued to fulfill the orders of the count and his relatives, and Pavel Stroganov was married to the daughter of the princess.

For Natalya Golitsyna, the young architect built a modest but elegant two-story building, which was to host ceremonial receptions. Two symmetrical residential outbuildings were erected on either side of it. An English park was laid out around the house, but it has not survived to this day. The interiors of the estate were also completely destroyed - during the war. How the interior decor looked like can only be recognized from a few surviving photographs.

Church of the Resurrection in Pochep

Church of the Resurrection. Architect Antonio Rinaldi. Photo: Eleonora Lukina / photobank "Lori"

The Resurrection Cathedral in the Russian Baroque style and the four-tiered bell tower were built by order of the last Ukrainian hetman, Kirill Razumovsky. Previously, it was believed that the author of the project was the architect Jean-Baptiste Vallin-Delamot. However, later researchers began to lean towards the opinion that it was built by Antonio Rinaldi, and the iconostasis of the cathedral was created by Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Initially, the church was part of the palace ensemble, but the building of the manor house and the park were destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. In Soviet times, the temple was closed, but today services are again held there.

Irkutsk Academic Drama Theater

Irkutsk Academic Drama Theatre. Architect Viktor Schreter. 1894–1897 Photo: Mikhail Markovsky / photo bank "Lori"

Victor Schroeter was the chief architect of the Directorate of the Imperial Theatres, so new theater buildings according to his designs were built not only in the capital, but also in the provinces. In 1897 he built a drama theater in Irkutsk at the expense of local merchants. Schroeter built a small functional building for 800 people. Outwardly, it stood out among other city buildings in that its walls were not plastered - they were just brick. The theater impressed its contemporaries not only with its innovative appearance and elegant decoration, but also with its technical equipment and impeccable acoustics.

Palace Ensemble in Bogoroditsk

Palace Ensemble in Bogoroditsk. Architect Ivan Starov. Photo: Ilyukhina Natalia / photobank "Lori"

The architect Ivan Starov built many country estates, mostly on the outskirts of St. Petersburg. In 1773, according to his project, a country palace was erected in the Tula region, which was ordered by Catherine II. In letters to Voltaire, she called Bogoroditsk "a pure flower garden."

On the banks of the Upertaya River, a two-story house was erected with a belvedere - a turret above the roof of the building. In 1774, according to the project of Ivan Starov, a small single-domed Kazan church was laid next to it. During the Great Patriotic War, Bogoroditsk was almost completely destroyed, and the once brilliant palace turned into ruins. In the 1960s and 70s, the building was restored, today there is

Prince Mikhail Golitsyn

Stackenschneider built a neo-Baroque palace with Corinthian columns. The roof of the building was framed by a balustrade - figured railings. Inside the building looked as majestic as outside: in the 19th century, the best balls in the city were held in its halls. In Soviet times, the building housed the local history museum, which is still located there.

Church of the Transfiguration in the village of Krasnoe

Church of the Transfiguration in the village of Krasnoe. Architect Yuri Felten. Photo: Elena Solodovnikova / Lori photo bank

The Church of the Transfiguration in the village of Krasnoye was built in 1787-1780, it was almost an exact copy of Yuri Felten's Chesme Church. Probably, such a decision was made by the owners of the Krasnoye Poltoratsky estate in order to attract the attention of Catherine II and earn her favor. The main difference from the St. Petersburg church was the yellow color in which the walls of the Gothic church were painted - the Chesme Church was red. In Soviet times, the temple was closed and until 1998 it was used as a warehouse. Today, services are again held in the church.