I would like to know what are the 20 greatest architectural buildings
in Europe, the Middle East, India, and America from 1400 - Present.  I
would also like to kwow when they were finished and who designed/built
it.

Hi there dallas2000~

Let me begin by saying that a list of ?the 20 greatest? anything is
always going to be an opinion. However, in answering this question,
I?ve used not just my own opinions, but the opinions of experts in the
field. I have considered aesthetics, innovation of design, and
influence upon later architecture. After each entry, I?ve also
provided at least one link to get you started on seeing and learning
more about the landmark.


20. The Tower of London, completed c. 1090, has an unknown designer,
and has been the setting for many historical events.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Tower_of_London.html and
http://www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/timeline.asp?ID=52

19. Price Tower, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1956,
was the first attempt to make a skyscraper that imitated nature. It?s
found in Bartlesville, Oklahoma .
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Price_Tower.html

18. Dover Castle, found in Dover, England, was completed in about
1180. It?s designer is unknown, but it is an excellent example of a
Medieval castle. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Dover_Castle.html

17. Notre-Dame du Haut was built in 1955 by architect Le Corbusier.
This modern and creative building was made of concrete.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Notre_Dame_du_Haut.html

16. Doge's Palace of Venice, Italy, was designed by architect unknown.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Doges_Palace.html

15. The Crystal Palace, designed by Joseph Paxton, was completed in
1851. It was uniquely modern for it?s time.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Crystal_Palace.html

14. Pennzoil Place in Houston, TX  was designed by Johnson/Burgee and
completed in 1976. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Pennzoil_Place.html

13. The Florence Cathedral was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio and
completed in 1462. It is considered the beginning of Renaissance
architecture. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Florence_Cathedral.html

12. The Pentagon, in Washington D.C. was completed in 1943 and was
designed by George Bergstrom.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/The_Pentagon.html

11. Empire State Building was completed in 1931, and quickly usurped
The Chrystler Building as the tallest building in the world. Designed
by Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, it is still one of the most recognized
buildings in the world.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Empire_State_Building.html

10. The Crystler Building, designed by William Van Alen, however, was
the first to try to reach great heights?and beautifully. It was
completed in 1930. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Chrysler_Building.html

9. The Sydney Opera House was designed by Jorn Utzon and completed in
1973. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Sydney_Opera.html

8. Chartres Cathedral, built from 1194 to 1260, was a ground?breaking
feat of architecture for it?s time. It?s designer is unknown.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Chartres_Cathedral.html

7. Sagrada Familia was designed by Antonio Gaudi for Barcelona, Spain.
It was built from 1882 to 1926.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Sagrada_Familia.html

6. The Kandariya Temple in Khajuraho, India, was completed in 1030.
Though it?s designer is unknown, it?s considered one of India?s
greatest buildings. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Kandariya_Temple.html
and http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/khajuraho/kandariyaindex.htm

5. The Flatiron Building in New York City is never forgotten once
seen. It?s thin, flat design was created by Daniel Burnham and the
building was completed in 1902.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Flatiron_Building.html

4. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO was designed by Eero Saarinen and
completed in 1947. This observation building is an amazing 630 foot
arch. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Gateway_Arch.html

3. Taj Mahal is widely recognized as one of the world?s great
buildings. It was designed by Emperor Shah Jahan and completed in 1653
in Agra, India. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Taj_Mahal.html

2. Eiffel Tower, named after it?s designer, Gustave Eiffel, was
completed in 1889. It is still one of the world?s most famous
buildings (to be more precise, it?s an observation tower.)
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Eiffel_Tower.html

1. St. Basil?s Cathedral in Moscow is inevitably still seen when news
reporters want to make it quickly known they are in Russia. It was
completed in 1554 and was designed by Barma and Posnik. It is
considered a building still without parallel.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Cathedral_of_St_Basil.html




In addition to browsing the websites listed above, you may also find
the following books interesting:

?The World?s Great Architecture: Past & Present? by D. M. Field and
Neil Grant (2003); http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0785813276/104-8422337-4787104?v=glance

?The World?s Greatest Buildings Explored and Explained? by Neil
Slevenson (1997); http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0789419653/qid=1075138018/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-8422337-4787104?v=glance&s=books



Have fun!
Kriswrite


SEARCH STATEGY:
"greatest architecture"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=%22greatest+architecture%22&spell=1

?greatest buildings?
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22greatest+buildings%22

world architecture
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=world+architecture&spell=1

Searches for specific buildings at http://www.greatbuildings.com

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Request for Answer Clarification by dallas2000-ga on 26 Jan 2004 16:33 PST

Not a big deal but there are four or so of these that were built
before 1400.  If you had to take these off and add four more, which
four would you add?

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Clarification of Answer by kriswrite-ga on 26 Jan 2004 18:44 PST

You?re absolutely right. I got a little too excited :) ; there were so
many older structures I wanted to include! How about these:

* The U.S. Capital Building, built from 1793 to 1830, and designed by
Thornton-Latrobe-Bulfinch.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/United_States_Capitol.html

* The Library, Escorial, completed in 1567, with designer unknown.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/The_Library-Escorial.html

* The Alcazar in Segovia, Spain is considered the antithesis of
Spanish castles, and was completed c. 1410 to 1455; the architect is
unknown. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/The_Alcazar.html

* The Palm House at Kew Gardens in London, finished in 1848 and
desgined by Decimus Burton and Richard Turner;
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Palm_House_at_Kew_Gardens.html

Kriswrite

Thank you!  You have been great!