Amazing buildings from around the world

 

1. The Gherkin is located in the heart of London and was unveiled in 2004 by its architect Norman Foster. The space between each floor allows for improved ventilation and temperature regulation, meaning it consumes only half the energy of a conventional building. 2. The Guggenheim Museum in New York was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and was the first museum opened by the Guggenheim Foundation in 1939. Taking the shape of a nautilus, its clever design means you can see the entirety of the artwork almost continuously. Starting upstairs, you can descend through the museum by following a circular ramp at your own pace. 3. The Abraj Al Bait Towers in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, commonly referred to as the Mecca Royal Hotel Clock Tower. Its clock is visible from 17 kilometres away in the middle of the night and is six times bigger than London's Big Ben. 4. You can't help but recognise the distinctly fruity design of The Esplanade (Theatres on the Bay) in Singapore when you see its unusual, spiky shape. The building was inspired by the durian, one of the most popular fruits in Asia, which has a highly distinctive flavour that first-timers tend not to enjoy. The same can't be said about this entertainment complex, which attractsa large number of visitors to its waterfront location. 5. The Petronas Towers would definitely be contenders for this accolade. Located in Kuala Lumpur, these twin towers stand 88 storeys high (8 represents prosperity in Asia) and held the record for the world's tallest building between 1998 and 2004,before the Taipei 101 tower was built. Although no longer the tallest buildings, they remain the tallest twin towers ever built. 6. The Taipei 101 Tower represents Asian culture and is meant to look like aturquoise-blue bamboo stick standing upright. Between 2004 and 2010, this tower held the record for being the tallest skyscraper in the world,until the construction of Burj Khalifa in Dubai. 7. The Arts and Science City in Valencia was designed by Santiago Calatrava and Felix Candela and is a cultural complex housing various buildings. It contains an auditorium, aquarium and evan an Imax cinema. In 2005 construction was finally completed after nine years building the different sections. The complex now receives more than four million visitors per year, most of whom visit the impressive aquarium, which is the largest in Europe Picture: 8. Burj Khalifa in Dubai is by far the tallest skyscraper in the world. Standing at 828 metres, it is almost 200 metres taller than the world's second tallest building, the Taipei 101 in Taiwan. Burj Khalifa also holds the record for the most storeys, as well as the fastest lift in the world. 9. Pragues Dancing House ('Tancci Dum' in Czech), designed by Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunic, consists of two buildings, mimicking a couple dancing together. The design is often referred to as 'Ginger & Fred', after Ginger Rodgers and Fred Astaire, because of this. While the building mainly contains offices, it also houses a French restaurant called Celeste, one of the best-known in the city.

ISMAIL CHOHAN