Most significant building in history?

[Adso de Fimnu]

Hello, fellow Civ historians.

I've always been interested by architecture. I've been wondering, is there any one building you would consider to be the most architecturally significant in history? A few candidates spring to my mind - the Pantheon, Hagia Sophia, the Parthenon. Or, there are those big pyramid-shaped things in Egypt...

Which building would you choose as the most significant?

 

[The Yankee]

Architecturally significant? Hmm...thinking back to that Art History class in the fall that went up to the Middle Ages...probably the Pantheon...given all the different styles used by the Romans. After all, it looks like yet another grand Greek temple while you stand before it, yet you're surprised with the dome structure on the inside as well as the drainage system on the floor (as there is an opening at the top), in addition to the detail and some painted-on columns if my memory serves me correctly.

 

[Verbose]

Mayhaps Pharao Zozer's step pyramid, designed by and erected under the guidance of that ancient brain-box Ijemhotep?

It's the first example of stone architecture in history. And Ijemhotep went down in history as "the first individual" for it. (I.e. he just may be the first named person we know off who wasn't royalty.)

 

[sydhe]

The Home Insurance Building in Chicago was the first building to be supported by a steel frame. That is, it was the first skyscraper.

The Crystal Palace was pretty significant.

The Hagia Sophia may be the most significant, however, because the sight of its dome allegedly persuaded Russia's emissaries to recommend Russia convert to Greek Orthodoxy.

 

[The Yankee]

And the walls of the Hagia Sophia were made very thickly...helping it guard against earthquakes.

I'm not sure there's *one* most significant, but we're sure to come up with a laundry list of very significant buildings.

 

[shortguy]

I'm not sure I agree. There are a lot of buildings that are "special"--they are ornate, expensive, unusual, etc. But the question asks for buildings that are "significant"--in my mind, that means that the building, by virtue of its existence, has had a profound efefct on history. Sure, the Pantheon is a great building, but did its existence change history measurably? Would the trajectory of history have been much differen without it? Now, consider that the Hagia Sophia myth that sydhe just related is true. That would be an instance where a building itself profoundly affected history, and would make it worthy of consideration.

 

[The Yankee]

Well, then the trajectory of history will be within a building that is probably no longer around and not famous...the first skyscraper or perhaps the first pyramids and some other examples excluded.

But, if you're going by those definitions...I would suggest the Temple Mount...although it may be more influential as a shell than as it's complete building.

 

[Plotinus]

The Hagia Sophia may be the most significant, however, because the sight of its dome allegedly persuaded Russia's emissaries to recommend Russia convert to Greek Orthodoxy.

I'd agree that Hagia Sophia is one of the most significant buildings in history, but not for that reason - the emissaries were impressed by the service itself rather than the building, I believe. In fact, they didn't specify what church the service was held in.

The question needs to be refined. Are we talking about the building that has had most influence on architecture? Or the building that has had most influence on wider history? Or what?

 

[deo]

I dont know if you can call the Great Wall a Building but if yes than it is the most significant building in history.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I'd have to say the most significant'd be the Colleseum in Rome. It is one of the longer survivng buildings in the world, and has inspired builders since Roman times. Its reasons and methods for presenting these reasons ( mass entertainment and the shape of the Colleseum) have had such an impact on the world, inspiring both the MEdieval Tournament and the modern sports stadium.

 

[sydhe]

St. Denis Basilica is very influential as the first fledged example of the Gothic style. (Durham Cathedral also had some Gothic characteristics.)

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Well Durham didn't have the Groin vault as we see it in a Gothic Cathedral(four ribs) , but rather a unique style (6 ribs), and it didnt have the flying butress, although there were similar-shaped butresses in the rafters. The biggest thing i think though was the heavy Romanqsue construction of Durham. It was definitely a precursor (sp?) to the Gothic style, but not with the influence St. Denis had. St. Denis would be a good vote though, Gothic archetecture definitely had a huge impact on every archetectural design since then.

 

[pacesplace]

My house is the most significant to me, of course.

 

[Ukas]

Babylonian Ziggurats. First really big buildings.

 

[Tee Kay]

May I suggest the Dome of the Rock? Very significant historically. The site is sacred to three religions. Wars have been fought over control of the site.

Either this or the Suez and/or Panama Canal. The Suez Canal is quite significant as it shortens the distance by sea from Europe to Asia (aiding European maritime imperialist powers of the day), intensify the the war in the First World War in the Middle East (Britain/Arabs vs Ottomans) and the Second World War in North Africa (Allies vs Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy) and the Suez Crisis.

 

[Adso de Fimnu]

The question needs to be refined. Are we talking about the building that has had most influence on architecture? Or the building that has had most influence on wider history? Or what?

When I orginally thought of the question, I was referring to a building's influence on architecture. But I would also be curious to hear what people think is the most historically significant building, too.

Of course, the question, like all of these Most/Least threads, is completely subjective.

 

[7ronin]

Perhaps one of the most historically significant buildings is the Curia Hostilia, the Roman Senate House, in the Forum Romanum. It was there that the decisions were made which made Rome an empire. The building was rather simple in design and was not important architecturally. It was also rebuilt numerous times.

 

[Stefan Haertel]

is there any one building you would consider to be the most architecturally significant in history?

Short answer: No.
Long answer: None at all.

 

[YNCS]

The CN Tower in Toronto is the most significant building in history.

Really, this question is worse than most of the "most important" questions. Buildings don't have significance, only the events that take place there are important. "Remember the Alamo" doesn't mean "never forget some church ruins," it means "remember what happened there."

 

[Heretic_Cata]

^
Oh yea, i have to admit that is THE most significant building in history. It literally changed everything ...