Tag: Architecture
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This mythical bird statue in India is the world’s largest
Jatayu Nature Park in Kerala, India, holds the largest bird sculpture on Earth, occupying about 15,000 sq feet and standing at the height of about 1200 feet above sea level. It is five times the size of the Pyramid of Giza. Opened in 2018 as a tourist destination, the 70-foot tall giant concrete figure pays […]
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Mirrored ceilings at Zhongshuge bookstores, China
Zhongshuge Bookstore is a popular book chain in China. Each of its stores leverages mirrors in its architectural design to give off a kaleidoscope effect on the interior. However, one of its stores in the city of Chongqing features a magical and elaborate bookcase. The location features a ceiling mirror that creates an optical illusion […]
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Rejected designs for the Eiffel Tower
In the 1880s, French designers Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier mocked up what would become the Eiffel Tower. You can even see the size comparison to other landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty. Thankfully, someone held on to the 14 other rejected designs. Number 3 seems to come closest to the final design, with embellished trusses added […]
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Spooky Indonesian church shaped like a chicken
There is a bizarre-looking church in the Indonesian jungle that’s shaped like a giant chicken. Located in the forests of Magelang, Central Java (here it is on Google Maps, Gereja Ayam or “Chicken Church” was built in 1992 by Daniel Alamsjah. He foresaw the structure in the late 80s when he received a spiritual message […]
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Churches built in post-colonial India
While Hindus make up a majority of the population of India, there’s a high density of churches in the southwest region of the country. German photographers Stefanie Zoche and Sabine Haubitz captured these uniquely structured colorful Christian churches during their trips to Kerala, India between 2011 and 2016. “It seems to me that the Syro-Malabar […]
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How the Netherlands use agricultural density through “architecture“ to feed the world
The Netherlands is the world’s second-largest exporter of agricultural products despite being 237 times smaller in land area than the world’s export leader, the United States. That’s according to a fascinating article on Netherlands agriculture density through “architecture“ (ie., extensive use of greenhouses) as examined by Arch Daily: “Dutch agriculture is defined by vast landscapes […]
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Meet the flying train, a hybrid train and plane
While Elon Musk is helping to combine hyperloops and space travel, the Russian architecture firm Dahir Insaat wants to build a hybrid train and plane that transports 2,000 people at a time. The flying trains reach speeds up to 300mph, not much faster than the speediest train in the world, the 267 mph Shanghai Maglev. […]
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New York’s Park Avenue once included a walkable park lane
Park Avenue in New York City used to have a dedicated park lane that ran down the middle of 5th Avenue. Hence the name “Park” Avenue. Even more, the term parking was first referenced in association with trees, not driving lines. From The Etymology of Parking: According to the 41st Congress, the proper way to […]