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This article was first published 12 years ago

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Last updated on: September 20, 2011 10:10 IST

Image: Piano Building.
Architects globally have designed unique and mind-blowing buildings over the years. Take a look at some of the world's most amazing buildings that breathe new life into infrastructure and the aesthetics of a city . . .

Piano Building, China

Built in An Hui Province in China, this building is one of the world's most beautiful structures.

The escalator to the building is built inside the violin. The building has the city's development plans on display.

. . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Solar Ark Building.
Solar Ark Building, Japan

A solar photovoltaic power generation facility, it shows activities on solar power generation.

This 315-meter-wide, 37-meter-tall facility is located in Anpachi, Gifu Prefecture in Japan.

. . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Basque Health Department Building.
Basque Health Department Building, Spain

The headquarters of the Basque Health Department designed by Coll-Barreu Arquitectos is an added attraction in Bilbao, known for its contemporary architecture.

The mind blowing building is spreading over an area of 9,200 sq m.

. . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Digital Beijing Building.
Digital Beijing Building

The Digital Beijing Building was used as an information facility for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

A green building, its glass curtain wall is designed to reduce thermal conduction. Its LED lighting system saves energy. The building also has a rainwater collection system.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: The Mushroom House.
The Mushroom House (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA)

Also known as Tree House, this is located in the Hyde Park section of Cincinnati. It was designed by architect Terry Brown, a professor of Architecture and Interior Design at the University of Cincinnati.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Office Center 1000.
Office Center '1000', Lithuania

This unique building is an office centre. It shows a 1000 currency note, which dates back to 1925.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Casa da Musica.
Casa da Musica (Porto, Portugal)

Casa da Musica is a concert hall in which houses three orchestras Orquestra Nacional do Porto, Orquestra Barroca and Remix Ensemble.

It was designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Kunsthaus.
Kunsthaus (Graz, Austria)

The Kunsthaus Graz or Graz Art Museum was built as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations in 2003.

A landmark in Graz, Austria, it specialises in contemporary art of the last four decades.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Museum of Contemporary Art.
Museum of Contemporary Art (Brazil)

Located in Rio de Janeiro, the Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum was completed in 1996. Designed by Oscar Niemeyer, the building resembles a flower.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Experience Music Project.
Experience Music Project (Seattle, Washington, USA)

The EMP Museum (formerly known as Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame or EMP SFM) is a museum dedicated to the history and exploration of both popular music and science fiction in Seattle, Washington.

Founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, it was designed by Frank Gehry.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Druzhba Holiday Center Hall.
Druzhba Holiday Center Hall, Ukraine

The Druzhba Holiday Center Hall in Yalta, Ukraine was designed by Igor Vasilevsky in 1984.

This resort building with cylindrical shape and stands on a hill overlooking a beach.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: The Astra Haus.
The Astra Haus, Germany

The Astra House building was a brewery in Hamburg, Germany. With its unique design, the floors could slide up and down. However, this building was later demolished.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: UCSD Geisel Library.
UCSD Geisel Library, United States

The Geisel Library is the main library building in the University of California, San Diego campus. It has four libraries and an Arts Library.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Berlin Zeiss Planetarium.
Berlin Zeiss Planetarium (Berlin, Germany)

The Wilhelm Foerster Observatory with its planetarium in Berlin was established in 1964. The Zeiss Planetarium with its 30 metre dome is one f the most attractive buildings in Germany.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Raffles Dubai.
Raffles Dubai, Dubai, UAE

Located in Wafi city, this stunning luxury hotel complex resembles the pyramids of Egypt. The complex has exclusive shopping and leisure destinations.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Teapot Dome Gas Station.
Teapot Dome Gas Station, United States

The Teapot Dome Service Station in Zillah, Washington represents novelty architecture.

The Teapot Dome Service Station was built in 1922. The building has a circular frame with a conical roof, sheet metal handle, and a concrete spout.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Luxor Hotel and Casino.
Luxor Hotel and Casino, United States

Luxor Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.

It has a modern and contemporary design with 4,400 rooms, including 442 suites.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Ripley's Building.
Ripley's Building, Canada

The remarkable Ripley's Building in Ontario, looks as if it's struck by an earthquake. It was built to reflect the 1812 earthquake in the city.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Puerta de Europa towers.
The Puerta de Europa towers (Madrid, Spain)

Built in 1996 by the Kuwait Investments Office and designed by the American architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee, the slanting towers are 115 metres tall with an inclination of 15 degrees.

  . . .

World's 20 most stunning buildings

Image: Tempe Municipal Building.
Tempe Municipal Building, United States

Tempe Municipal Building called 'upside down pyramid' was designed by architects Michael and Kemper Goodwin.

The building was completed in 1970 at a cost of $52,500,000. It houses the municipal offices for the City of Tempe.