The Leaning Tower of Pisa built in Italy in August 9, 1173 and designed by Bonanno Pisano. The tower took over two centuries to build and officially opened in 1399. Highest side of the building is 56.67  meter high and the lowest side of the building is 55.86 meters high, but the buildings original high was 60 meters high.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a world wide known building. The tower is known for its magnificent lean. The tower was not originally suppose to lean but by the time the building reached the third story of construction is began the lean. The lean started to occur due to how soft the soil beneath it was. One of the most interesting things about it in my opinion is that over time the tower has not only leaned more and more but it also has switched the way it leans as well.

The tower look simple when you take the lena away and then when you add it, it is something that give the building character, makes it unique. makes it different and makes it stand out. The building reminds me that sometimes it is something so simple, so natural, so unpredictable that makes something stand out, wether it be a building, a place or a person.

Glenn Murcutt was one of Australia’s most famous architects. He won the Pritzker Prize back in 2002, which is one of the top prizes an architect can receive for his or her work. He was awarded the Pritzker Prize because of his “innovative and environmentally sensitive buildings.” The masterpiece that won him the Pritzker Price was the Berowra Waters Inn. According to the Inn’s website, it was built with “Australian vernacular style, combining Sydney sandstone with corrugated tin and glass louvre windows.” This location is 50 miles away from Sydney. This architecture became popular because of the scenery it provided and also the great architecture Glenn Murcutt provided.

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights was a building built in 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia built by Philip Freelon. To me, this is the most impressive building that he built. It really made me take a step back and realize how much work truly goes in to a building, even if it is something that’s not noticeable at first or without being told. The multi-coloured panels on the exterior are used to represent different skin tones. The two slanted walls are divided by a glass curtain wall, which is an evocation of two hands coming together.

The Motown Museum is a large museum in Detroit, Michigan. It was overhauled by Perkins+ Will, a global design practice founded in 1935 with the help of Philip Freelon. It’s amazing to me that multiple big name designers were able to come together and design a single building. It joins existing house-like structures that currently accommodate the museum, so they had to make sure that this building flowed with what was already in place. The images of the building were released in February 2019, only a few months before Freelon passed away. I personally like the colorful strips at the top of the building and the way that they grab the eye.

This museum is really cool to me for a couple different reasons. The first one is the large glass windows, allowing you to see inside. Although it is common, I still love getting to see large windows, and the bright lighting behind it only adds to the effect. The museum contains slave narratives and documents the history of enslaved Africans. The museum is part of a 42-story skyscraper and is joined by condominiums and a 5-star hotel.

Philip Freelon was an architect who was loved for the diversity of his projects. This one in particular stood out to me when I was looking at his work because it is a place I have actually been to It is located in Houston, Texas, and I would highly recommend going to the location if you are in town. There is a playground as well as a performance hall. The most important thing about the park is the location- it is built in a mostly African-American neighborhood and was the only public park their at times.

Siemensstadt Large Housing Estate

The Siemensstadt large housing estate, also known as Ring Settlement, was constructed in the 1930s by Walter Gropius, Otto Bartning and other architectures. The settlement was originally used to create small apartments for low-income employees working for Siemens’ nearby electric company. All the rooms had a lot in common with standard apartment layout and uniform room sizes. At the time, a lot of public housing projects were produced under government cooperative Gehag sponsorships. Siemensstadt was constructed by a private housing cooperative. The shape of the settlement was a turning point in urban thinking too. It had individual gardens and favored much denser multi-story apartment blocks. Located in Berlin, the Ring settlement is now a nonprofit residential community.

Bauhaus Building

The Bauhaus building was a German art school operational from 1919 to 1933 that combined crafts and the fine arts. It’s known today worldwide as the symbol of “white modernism”.  It evokes the image of white, cubic, and abstract buildings. Since operations could no longer be held due to budget cuts by the government, Bauhaus left its founding site in Weimar. The building has a glass outer shell, revealing the inside and the construction. It also is arranged a clear separation of functions between working, studying, and living. Today the Bauhaus building can be visited daily. It offers overnight accommodation in faithfully restored rooms.

Dammerstock Housing Estate

The Dammerstock Housing Estate is a residential area built in 1929 as a model settlement of social housing in just seven months. Its located in Germany and was designed by Walter Gropius and Otto Haesler. The model presented to the public was called the “Utility Apartment.” It targeted middle and lower-income bracket groups because the apartment was small with modern sanitary facilities. its facade design is recognizable because of the bright white plasters, flat roofs, and uniform window sizes. The apartments had not only an arcade but restaurants as well. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the building was finished. It’s still completed inhabited today!

Fagus Factory

The Fagus Factory is a shoe last enterprise. A shoe last is a 3-dimensional wooden or plastic mold upon which a shoe is constructed. The factory was designed by Walter Gropius and Adolf Meyer.   The factory was built in 1911 and its construction was finished completely until 1925. The Fagus Factory is located in Germany and was built to represent modern architecture. Modern architecture is based on new technologies of constructions and embraces minimalism.  The factory ranks as one of the masterpieces of modern architecture. At first glance, a lot of people believe the building was made of concrete or steel because of the glass facade. The glass facade is what gives it the minimalistic look.