The European Central Bank (ECB) designed by Coop Himmelblau is an impressive feat of architecture and shows beauty where it’s not thought to be found. The building is derived from a polygonal shape cut into half and the sides of the two are switched giving this building its unique and beautiful shape.

The Romeo and Juliet Windmill in Spring Green, Wisconsin was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright at request of his aunts. They needed a way to pump water to their school, down the hill from the windmill. It is a very unique structure for a windmill and has an oversight balcony where you can look at the hillside. His aunts requested that it be a similar design to that of the schoolhouse which is where the shingles come into play. A very unique exterior with wooden shingles that match that of the roof of the school. The original siding was removed in 1938 and the tower was replaced in 1992.

The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is located in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1956 and completed in 1961 after his death. It was one of his last works and I believe to be one of his most unique compared to his other projects. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Although the architecture of the building itself is not traditional Greek Orthodox style, there are many colors, symbols and designs that retain these associations and traditions of the religion.

The Bauhaus Building was built between 1925 and 1926 in Dessau, Germany. Gropius wanted to take a different approach with this school building by incorporating influence from his prior designs with new industrial materials such as reinforced concrete. His fresh approach can also be seen by the geometric, flat roofs. He wanted this building to present the idea of a school, however the glass curtains allow for a vibe leaning towards a well-lit experimental laboratory for new technologies.

The next design is by far my most favorite design I saw from Cesar Pelli because it was so interesting. Pelli designed it for the National Museum of Art in Osaka, Japan and it incorporates lots of interesting stainless steel. There is also a glass entrance that leads to three subterranean levels. This building was my favorite because it is just so different from everything else you typically see. 

Commissioned by the Berlin-based timber entrepreneur Adolf Sommerfeld as his private residence, this house served as the first large scale example of the Bauhaus method of design. The use of wood gives the building a traditional, rustic look, which is outside of Gropius’ normal realm. It was built in 1921 in Berlin, Germany and was tragically destroyed during World War II.

The One Canada Square is a beautiful skyskraper designed by Cesar Pelli. It is known as being London’s first skyscraper and was completed in 1991. The structure is 50 stories high and features inverted corners for more light to enter the building. The building is located at Canary Wharf, which is home to seven other towers that were also designed by Pelli.

Built in Alfred al der Leine, Lower Saxony, Germany, in the year 1910, Gropius designed this factory with floor to ceiling windows that helps create a sense of light. Not many buildings like this are seen today, as the right angle of the glass corners gives the illusion that the building does not need support. Gropius’ intention was to benefit society with this design, giving factory workers more light and fresh air than was common in traditional factory designs.

The Petronas Towers were designed by architect Cesar Pelli. They are located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and they held the title of the world’s tallest building up until 2004. The twin towers are 88 stories high and are connected by a two-story sky bridge at the 41st and 42nd floors. Pelli used inspiration from Malaysian crafts and materials and Islamic design motifs when designing this building. 

I chose the Porta Nuova Garibaldi Complex because it ranks as the tallest building in Italy which I found to be very interesting. It was designed by architect Cesar Pelli. It is composed of three different LEED Gold-certified towers and includes a circular public pizza framed by the towers which was my favorite part about the complex.