50 Times Architects Created Something Truly Extraordinary

How do you feel about getting to know some of these architectural wonders better, Pandas? Are you up for it? If so, then let's go!

First, let's talk about the gorgeous flower shop front in Brussels, Belgium, that architect Paul Hankar designed in 1896. Originally a gentlemen's outfitters, it is now a Daniel Ost flower boutique. Before that, it was the home of another florist, Isabel De Backer. 

The storefront and the building itself were designed in the style of Art Nouveau, and we can peek at some exotic accents of the interior through the windows. The shop was restored in 2002 in accordance with the original plans.

It looks quite impressive in real life, as the 20th-century façades surrounding the shop are bland and uniform. Experts and architecture blame "Brusselization" for this type of bland architecture. It mostly refers to modern high-rises that were built without any consideration for their context that have very little personality.

Another Art Nouveau gem from Brussels is the glass artist Sterner's studio and house. The façade at Rue du Lac 6 in Brussels was designed by Ernest Delune in 1902. The asymmetrical façade includes stained glass windows that are the work of Austrian master glassmaker Clas Gruner Sterner. He also lived in the upper level of the building. 

Starting in 2019, the "Glassmaker's house" underwent a renovation because of damaged frames and being unfit for habitation. The works finished in 2020 and included the restoration of the front door, roofs and frames, as well as the interior staircase, which was left there to preserve the authenticity of the house.

Grundtvig's Church in Copenhagen is quite a modern architectural feat, yet that doesn't make it any less impressive. Designed by architect Peder Vilhelm Jensen Klint and built in 1940, it was meant to commemorate the Danish priest, poet, and reformer N.F.S. Grundtvig. The architectural style of the church is described as "modern gothic," yet experts classify it as expressionist.

Klint made an interesting decision to make the church look similar to traditional Danish country houses. The entire church, aside from the baptismal font and the roof, is built from handmade yellow bricks. If you look at the picture closely, you'll see that the massive columns that rise to pointed arches are all made of these bricks.

If you've ever dreamed of living on water, the Jal Mahal palace might just be your dream home. Built in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake, it translates to "Water Palace." But it actually doesn't float on water. 

It was constructed around 1799, and there are five stories in total: four are usually submerged when the lake is full, and the top story is always visible. Currently, tourists cannot go into the palace, as it is undergoing renovation. Originally, Jal Mahal was a hunting lodge, and it had supposedly gotten flooded when a dam was constructed in the hills and the lake was formed.

You can see a lot of castles if you visit Hungary, but the Vajdahunyad Castle in Budapest is a great example of the architectural revolution of styles and techniques throughout the years. It features Romanesque architecture, Gothic Renaissance, and even buildings in Baroque style. 

Interestingly, the castle is not that old: it was built in 1896 for the Millennial Exhibition. At first, it was temporary, built from wood and cardboard, but Hungarians loved it so much that in 1908, it became a permanent structure of stone, marble staircases, stained glass windows, and painted ceilings.

New Hampshire can boast some interesting and impressive architecture as well. The Swallow Boathouse in Moultonborough was built in 1907 and had many different uses throughout the years. It's one of the most elaborate boathouses in New Hampshire, built in the styles of Tudor Revival and the Shingle style. Originally, its owner Herbert Dumaresq used it to store his 63.11-foot luxury steam yacht Swallow, but since the 1980s, it's part of the Windward Harbor condominium community.

Tourists may think that St. Stephen's Cathedral is at the center of Vienna, Austria. But the owners of the Café Central may beg to differ. The architect behind this magnificent building was Heinrich von Ferstel, who was inspired by a trip to Italy and combined elements of Florentine and Venetian architecture.

He picked and chose whichever aspects of the two appealed to him the most and out came the Palais Ferstel that houses the iconic Café Central, once visited by the likes of Freud, Trotsky, and Zweig.

Who thinks museums themselves should be works of art and architectural monuments? Romanian artists Frederic Storck and Cecilia Cuțescu-Storck thought so when they made their house into a modern art museum. The house was constructed in 1912-1913 with the help of the architect Alexandru Clavel and input from both artists. Its style is quite eclectic, including a mix of Art Nouveau elements.

The Black Church in Brașov, Transylvania is not related to Dracula, sadly, but it is one of the oldest medieval churches in Europe. Its construction started in 1383, but it suffered many attacks from the Ottoman and the Tatar armies. By 1477, it was finally finished, although not as big in scale as had been planned. Still, the biggest part of the church perished in 1689, when a huge fire devastated the town of Brașov. It was rebuilt in the 18th century, but the restoration works still continue to this day.

Which of these architectural gems were your favorites, Pandas? How many have you seen in real life and which ones would you like to see with your own eyes the most? Let us know in the comments! And while you're here, be sure to check out our previous posts about the subreddit that loves architecture just as much as we do here, here, and right here!