Home » Business » World's 13 amazing architectural marvels
World's 13 amazing architectural marvels
Last updated on: June 22, 2011 14:39 IST
Image: Knowledge centre at Masdar Institute Campus.
Thirteen buildings have received the RIBA International Awards for architectural excellence in 2011. The Royal Institute of British Architects has honoured these buildings for their breathtaking beauty and futuristic design. Masdar Institute Campus, Abu Dhabi Architect: Foster and Partners Gross internal area: 45,000 sq m
The campus uses traditional architectural elements and modern materials for a perfect blend of natural lighting and cooling that minimizes energy needs both indoors and outdoors.
The campus has six buildings, including laboratories, teaching rooms and apartments.
Click NEXT to see more amazing buildings...
Image: Brain and Mind Research Institute.
Brain and Mind Research Institute, Sydney, Australia
Architect: BVN Cost to build: $14 million Gross internal area: 3,000 sq m
The Youth Mental Health Building has two floors for consulting and patient interaction and two floors of research laboratories.
The building has also won a prestigious architecture award at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona, Spain.
Image: Guangzhou Opera House.
Guangzhou Opera House, Guangzhou, China
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects Area: 70,000 sq m Value: $200 million The structure resembles two pebbles along the Pearl River. The 1,800-seat auditorium looks like a futuristic space ship under the stars.
Image: Iron Market, Haiti.
Iron Market, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Architect: John McAslan & Partners Gross internal area: 4,645 sq m
It took $12 million to rebuild the Iron Market in Haiti. The reconstruction was sponsored by Irish billionaire Denis O'Brien. More than 900 vendors sell arts and crafts, fruit and vegetables, dry produce and beauty products here.
Image: Alila Villas Uluwatu.
Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
Architect: WOHA Value: $100 million Gross internal area: 26,595 sq m
The Alila Villas Uluwatu is a group of buildings, terraces, pools and gardens situated 100 metres above the Indian Ocean on a limestone cliff on Bali's Bukit Peninsula.
Image: Stanislavsky Factory.
Stanislavsky Factory, Moscow, Russia
Architect: John McAslan & Partners Gross internal area: 60,400 sq m
The historic Stanislavsky Factory and theatre site in central Moscow was transformed into a vivid cultural hub.
Image: School of the Arts - World's Best Learning Building, Singapore.
School of the Arts - World's Best Learning Building, SingaporeValue: $100 million Gross internal area: 52,945 sq m
The School of the Arts is Singapore's specialised independent pre-tertiary arts school.
Image: Galleria Centercity Department Store.
Galleria Centercity Department Store, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
Architect: UN Studio Gross internal area: 66,700 sq m
The Galleria Cheonan functions as a semi-cultural meeting place as well besides being a department store. The store gives a feel of a museum.
Image: Laboratory Building, Basel, Switzerland.
Laboratory Building, Basel, SwitzerlandArchitect: David Chipperfield Architects Gross internal area: 11,600 sq m This beautifully designed glass facade gives a contemporary look to the Novartis' laboratory.
Image: Loft Gardens, Istanbul.
Loft Gardens, Istanbul, Turkey
Architect: Tabanlioglu Value: $20 million Gross internal area: 22,500 sq m
The 21 storey residential building is one of the most impressive buildings in Istanbul.
Image: Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA
Architect: Foster and Partners Value: $180 million Gross internal area: 11,270 sq m
The museum houses 53 new galleries over across 4 storeys.
Image: Cafe at North College, Rice University.
North College, Rice University, Houston, USA
Architect: Hopkins Architects Partnership Value: $110 million Gross internal area: 300,000 sq m
The building has 400 rooms, to accommodate up to 650 students. Each quadrangle is completed by a dining space.
It has a glass-covered cafe and a special exhibition gallery.
Image: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia, USA
Architect: Rick Mather Architects Value: $150 million Gross internal area: 165,000 sq.ft
The museum has three new floors of gallery space and a shop, library, lecture hall, conservation studios, offices and a cafe and restaurant overlooking a four acre sculpture garden.
