Global Architectural Marvels
- Joe Lim
- Apr 26
- 6 min read
From a circus-themed library to a highly decorative church, these amazing structures are the epitome of fantastical architecture.
From a circus-themed library to highly decorative churches, these fantasy-like structures make us ogle at the creative works of these architects and designers.
San Giovanni Buttista, Switzerland
Mario Botta's 1992 design, San Giovanni Battista (Church of St. John the Baptist), is located in Lavizzana, Switzerland. Architect Mario Botta’s San Giovanni Battista Church in the secluded Swiss hamlet of Mogno exemplifies modern design and perseverance. The church was constructed from 1994 to 1996 following an avalanche that impaired the existing 17th-century structure in 1986.
Botta’s design harmoniously integrates with the mountainous environment, enhancing the contemplative ambiance. The round configuration and circular glass roof let the ingress of natural light. The exterior exhibits alternating bands of indigenous materials, including white Peccia marble and grey Riveo granite, resulting it a distinctive striped appearance.
The glass roof symbolizes openness to the sky, whilst the robust stone walls of the church, narrowing from two meters at the base to fifty centimeters at the apex, signify strength and protection. The interaction of transparency and solidity exemplifies Botta's objective of connecting the sacred with the human. San Giovanni Battista Church serves not just as a place of prayer but also as a significant architectural monument that showcases Botta’s expertise in integrating traditional materials with modern forms, resulting in spaces that are important both historically and contemporaneously.
Shenzhen Zhongshuge, China
The Beijing Zhongshuge Lafayette Store, Chongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore, Yangzhou Zhongshuge, and the renowned Dujiangyan Zhongshuge are among the numerous bookstores and retail establishments under X-LIVING’s portfolio. A particularly remarkable instance is the Shenzhen Zhongshuge bookstore, which showcases a striking spiral installation in red and white that commands the interior and is observable from the exterior akin to a gallery exhibit.
Architect Li Xiang founded the Shanghai-based design studio X-LIVING in 2011 and is renowned for integrating architecture and art to produce innovative and memorable environments. Whimsical colors, flowing forms, and exquisite details characterize their works, creating fanciful, surreal environments that offer visitors immersive spatial experiences.Architect Li Xiang founded the Shanghai-based design studio X-LIVING in 2011 and is renowned for integrating architecture and art to produce innovative and memorable environments. Whimsical colors, flowing forms, and exquisite details characterize their works, creating fanciful, surreal environments that offer visitors immersive spatial experiences.
This artwork commemorates the founders and pioneers of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. Li Xiang emphasizes that her aim transcends merely crafting aesthetically pleasing landscapes; she aspires to construct entire universes within websites that provide users with novel perspectives and creative avenues. This method ensures that X-LIVING’s projects are visually appealing and emotionally resonant, encouraging visitors to engage intimately with their environments.
Futuruscope Poitiers, France
Futuroscope, an avant-garde theme park dedicated to multimedia, filmmaking, and audiovisual technology, is located near Poitiers, France. The park has recorded around 35 million visits since its inauguration in 1987, with 1.6 million visits occurring in 2007.
The park features distinctive glass architecture and multiple immersive 3D and 4D cinemas. These avant-garde structures host events and attractions that are unparalleled. Situated in the Vienne department's Theeneuil-du-Poitou and Jaunay-Clan, Futuroscope has become as a prominent tourist attraction and cultural landmark. This is a significant instance of modern theme park architecture due to its innovative integration of entertainment and technology that captivates people.
Basque Health Department Building, Spain
Designed by Coll-Barreu Arquitectos and completed in 2008, the Basque Health Department Headquarters is a prominent structure situated in Bilbao’s Ensanche district at the junction of two principal thoroughfares. This region constituted the last unexploited zone within the city's commercial and administrative sector.
Alongside adhering to stringent urban regulations, the building's distinctive double-glazed, multidimensional glass façade enhances acoustic insulation, fire resistance, and energy efficiency. This innovative design reduces energy consumption and enhances interior air quality by obviating the necessity for conventional air conditioning.
The building’s interior is divided into two levels for institutional usage and seven open-plan office floors. Services and vertical circulation are housed in a vertical spine along the longest party wall. The first basement has an auditorium and foyer, while the double-height tower at the chamfered corner houses the board hall. Three parking levels and a fourth basement for archives are located below. The facade’s folded glass components capture Bilbao’s lively energy by producing dynamic reflections of the city that change according to the time of day, season, and viewing point.
MVRDV Valley, Amsterdam
The Zuidas business district in Amsterdam features the mixed-use complex Valley, designed by MVRDV. The project, completed in 2021, has three buildings with heights over 100 meters, featuring offices, retail spaces, cultural organizations, and residential flats. The design distinguishes itself from the adjacent corporate building with its terraced façade, adorned with natural stone and abundant vegetation.
Piet Oudolf, a landscape architect, meticulously curated over 13,500 plants to establish a "green valley" that ascends through the structure, enhancing biodiversity and providing individuals access to secluded outdoor spaces. Valley received the 2021 Emporis Skyscraper Award for being the most notable new skyscraper globally, showcasing its innovative design.
The Silo, a notable 17-storey structure in Copenhagen's Nordhavn district, exemplifies innovative adaptive reuse in architecture. The Danish firm COBE transformed the previous grain storage facility into a mixed-use development featuring 39 unique residential apartments and public amenities. The design preserves the building's existing concrete, honoring its industrial heritage, while incorporating a new angular galvanized steel façade that enhances energy efficiency and provides a contemporary aesthetic.
The Silo, which was finished in 2017, has won accolades all over the world, including the Azure AZ Award for multi-storey residential architecture and the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s 2018 Best Tall Building Europe. This project, which exemplifies how careful design can adapt existing structures to meet modern needs, is crucial to Nordhavn’s transition from an industrial region into a bustling urban quarter.
The Bull @ Zabb e Lee Cooking School, Thailand
The Bull @ Zabb e Lee Cooking School, situated in Don Kaeo, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai, Thailand, is a bamboo pavilion designed by Chiangmai Life Architects. This is the third extension to the Zabb e Lee culinary school's facilities, completed in 2023, following the success of previous bamboo buildings.
The pavilion's U-shaped configuration optimally utilizes the constrained space between a large tree and a pond, creating a dynamic structure that resembles a bull's head with upward-curving horns. These "horns" establish welcoming entrances that connect three distinct areas for cooking, dining, and food preparation. In addition to its exterior appearance, the dome-shaped chambers of the construction, reinforced by intersecting bundled bamboo arches, enhance the interior's spaciousness. The strategic use of lighting in the evening amplifies the cozy and tranquil atmosphere established by the natural bamboo material.
Beyond its visual attractiveness, the pavilion’s carbon footprint is zero or negative because it uses bamboo, a material that absorbs carbon dioxide throughout its growth and is therefore consistent with sustainable architecture techniques.
The National Museum, Qatar
The National Museum of Qatar opened in March 2019 and is a showcase for creative architecture and cultural respect. Its structure, designed by Pritzker Prize winner Jean Nouvel, was inspired by the desert rose, a naturally occurring crystal formation representative of Qatar’s dry terrain.
The museum’s unique interlocking discs form a dynamic structure that delivers practical shade and aesthetic appeal, shielding visitors from the heat of the desert. The 430,000-square-foot museum, which occupies a 1.5 million-square-foot property at the southern end of Doha’s Corniche, features several connected areas that lead visitors through the country’s rich past and swift development.
A 2.7-kilometer exhibition route delineates the nation's geological and cultural evolution, spanning from its prehistoric origins to its emergence as a technologically sophisticated culture. The galleries, illuminated by Licht Kunst Licht, are meticulously lit to accentuate the exhibits and architecture unobtrusively.
The National Museum of Qatar serves as both a cultural landmark and an architectural masterpiece that encapsulates the heritage of the Qatari people, bridging the past and present.
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