Most Impressive Building?

[Rambuchan]

Has anyone seen Petra? I'd love to see that.

 

[skadistic]

The PENNDOT building in Harrisburg PA. Why? Because I did all the glass work in it. Designed and installed it, with help of corse.

 

[Berrie]

May I be a little chauvinistic?

The atomium, Brussels

 

[newfangle]

The Burj Dubai, to be completed ~2 years.
167 freaking stories.

The world's tallest hotel, also in Dubai.

 

[Irish Caesar]

Just to add another one that I'm not sure if it has been mentioned...the US Capitol. It's so much bigger up close than I would have ever imagined! And so many stairs...

Yankee Stadium also, for me. Large and full of baseball, the place I saw 1,001 times on television, with its history and its own essence...

You should try and come to Fenway sometime. Just as much history, but more tragedy...

 

[Lambert Simnel]

While there are many words I would use to describe the Gherkin, not all of them flattering, I suppose it is certainly impressive.

I love the Swiss Re building! I used to walk past it to work for a while, and just couldn't get over it - each day I'd be gazing up from underneath, feeling better just because it was there.

 

[Furiey]

Has anyone seen Petra? I'd love to see that.

Yep, visited just after 9/11 which meant that the place was nearly empty. I posted the treasury (post 36) as the most impressive building that I've seen as the impact of that first view through the rocks was stunning. The site is very big though and there's much more than that one building. Definitely well worth a visit, and lots of other sites to visit in Jordan to make up a whole trip.

 

[Narz]

Most Impressive Building?

I don't know much about architecture, however I can pitch a pretty impressive tent.

 

[The Yankee]

You should try and come to Fenway sometime. Just as much history, but more tragedy...

I'll do it wearing my Yankees hat.

Though I never had much of a chance to be outside NYC, hence all the NYC-centric buildings.

 

[CaptainF]

The Burj Dubai, to be completed ~2 years.
167 freaking stories.

The world's tallest hotel, also in Dubai.

The Burj Dubai is also supposed to stand at about 2100 feet tall!

 

[WillJ]

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

 

[Red Stranger]

The world's tallest hotel, also in Dubai.

I'd agree with this one. The inside is wozzers. I haven't been in there, but my dad has.

 

[7ronin]

Of buildings I have seen:
The Empire State Building
Neuschwanstein Castle
The Great Pyramid at Giza
Todaiji (Great Eastern Temple) in Nara, Japan
Of buildings I have not seen:
The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur

 

[Rambuchan]

Yep, visited just after 9/11 which meant that the place was nearly empty. I posted the treasury (post 36) as the most impressive building that I've seen as the impact of that first view through the rocks was stunning. The site is very big though and there's much more than that one building. Definitely well worth a visit, and lots of other sites to visit in Jordan to make up a whole trip.

Ooops.

Actually I asked because a friend of mine was talking about seeing it recently and he said exactly the same thing; that the walk and the way the splendid building is revealed adds to the impact. He also told me about all the other buildings further up (or to the side?) where 'the common folk' lived. The doorway you've posted is actually to one or two big halls and that's it right?

 

[aneeshm]

The Meenakshi temple , in Madurai . I do not think I will ever see anything so intricately and delicately constructed in my lifetime .

 

[luiz]

Pretty impressive, aneeshm. When was it built?

 

[Smokey_Monkey]

The Millienium Stadium is pretty impresive!

 

[aneeshm]

Pretty impressive, aneeshm. When was it built?

A long time ago , as most Hindu temples are . From the Wiki -

The Meenakshi temple is a Hindu temple in the Tamil Nadu city of Madurai.

Initially there was only the Shiva temple. It was expanded by Vaishvanâtha of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1560 and took 120 years to complete, with most of the construction being done between 1623 and 1660 at the behest of Kulasekara Pandya. The massive structure measures 254 by 237 meters. The temple precinct is surrounded by nine gopurams (monumental gateways covered with sculpture) which rise up to 200 feet high. Its tallest spire rises 60 meters, and was for many years the tallest structure in its category in Asia.

The exact date of its construction is unknown . It has a rather . . . . . "interesting" history . From the home page of the temple's official website :

According to legend, the sacred Suyambulingam discovered by the king of Gods `Indiran' at Kadambavanam, was later enshrined by him in Madurai. The fact that the Lord is seen on the vehicle of `Indira' in this temple is said to be proof for this.

Many historical evidences of the temple have been found dating back from early A.D

Thirugnanasambandar the Hindu Saint has mentioned the temple in his songs which go back to early 7th century. The lord has been described as `Aalavai Iraivan' in his songs.

The temple was almost completely destroyed in the year 1310 following the invasion of the Islamic coqueror Malikkapur. As kings who were followers of Islam were noted for their intolerance towards other religions, the invaders destroyed most of the ancient sculputures of the temple.

The temple was restored to its pristine glory in the late 14th century when the Hindu Kings came back to power in Madurai. This can also be termed as a new beginning of a new era in the history of the temple, when it was almost rebuilt.

The King Thirumalai Naicker played an important role in the construction of the new form of the temple.

A few more pictures :

The shadow covering the centre of the above picture is cast by one of the massive gateways to the temple .

It is hard to describe the intricacy of the carvings on the temple exterior and the temple walls . You have to acutally go there to understand .

A photo of some activity going on in the temple in festive times :

 

[atreas]

The Meenakshi temple , in Madurai . I do not think I will ever see anything so intricately and delicately constructed in my lifetime .

Unbelievable building!!!

I was looking at the picture and tried to rationalize my feelings for this. It was very interesting to note the difference of feelings produced by this temple, an ancient Egyptian temple (like Karnak), Parthenon, a Christian temple, a Muslim mosque, or a Japanese Pagoda. Behind them, IMO, you can start to understand better the people and their relation with both nature and religion.

 

[aneeshm]

I've always found religious structures interesting . I have noticed that the top ten or fifteen great religious buildings of any religion are always extremely impressive . Hinduism was lucky that India was a rich country in its past - that is why there are a disproportionately large number of large temples . I'll post a few more - I hope people will be interested . The following are two temples which have been recently constructed , and which I have not actually visited , but would definitely love to visit .