Category: architecture

Folly architecture

In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but suggesting through its appearance some other purpose, or of such extravagant appearance that it transcends the range of garden ornaments usually associated with the class of buildings to which it belongs.
18th century English gardens and French landscape gardening often featured mock Roman temples, symbolizing classical virtues. Other 18th century garden follies represented Chinese temples, Egyptian pyramids, ruined abbeys, or Tatar tents, to represent different continents or historical eras.
info: Wikipedia

Broadway Tower, Worcestershire, England

By Saffron Blaze – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

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Modern Day Pyramids

Filled with mystery and intrigue, the ancient pyramids  have been admired by humans throughout the ages. In modern times the iconic structure of the pyramid has inspired many architectural projects all around the world. The modern day behemoths, mostly built  from glass and steel,  are employed as architectural statement pieces.

The Louvre Pyramid in Paris

By Martin Falbisoner (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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Swiss camouflaged military bunkers perfectly integrated into the landscape

Across Switzerland there are hundreds of military bunkers cleverly blended into Switzerland’s landscapes. The Swiss even hired artists and theater set designers to give the bunkers their make-overs to help them fit in with the local surroundings. The bunkers are hided behind well-disguised facades that have gone unnoticed for years.

 

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Pleasure piers

Piers have been built for several purposes, and because these different purposes have distinct regional variances the term is principally associated with the image of a Victorian cast iron pleasure pier. However, the earliest piers predate the Victorian age and were of wooden construction. Providing a walkway out to sea, pleasure piers often include amusements and theaters as part of the attraction. Such a pier may be open air or partly open, partly closed.

Morning mist on Lake Mapourika, New Zealand.

photographer: Richard Palmer (image source)

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Spite houses: How to annoy your neighbors

A spite house is a building constructed or modified to irritate neighbors or any party with land stakes. Spite houses may create obstructions, such as blocking out light or blocking access to neighboring buildings or can be just symbols of defiance. Because long-term occupation is at best a secondary consideration, spite houses frequently sport strange and impractical structures.
More info wikipedia
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In 1806, Thomas McCobb, heir to his father’s land and shipbuilding business, returned home to Phippsburg, Maine, from sea to discover that his stepbrother Mark had inherited the family “Mansion in the Wilderness”. Upset about his loss, McCobb built a house directly across from the McCobb mansion to spite his stepbrother.

By The original uploader was GregManninLB at English Wikipedia – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Liftarn using CommonsHelper., Public Domain, Link

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Rakotzbrücke Devil’s Bridge

rakotzbrucke-bridge-1image source

Rakotzbrücke (also called the Devil’s Bridge) is nestled in Azalea and Rhododendron Park, Kromlau, Germany. The bridge dates back to 1860s. Rakotzbrücke was specially built to create a circle when it is reflected in the waters beneath it – a popular photo opp. The bridge’s artificially-formed basalt columns were specially shipped from distant quarries.
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Magnificent buildings made entirely from wood on Kizhi Island

kizhi-pogost-2image source

Kizhi island is located on Lake Onega in the Republic of Karelia, Russia. The entire island and the nearby area form a national open-air museum with more than 80 historical wooden structures. The most famous is the Kizhi Pogost, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Pogost is an area inside a fence, which includes two large wooden churches and a bell-tower, that are made entirely from wood, from the frame to the rivets and the stunning exterior.

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