Holy Cross Church

Designed to be a part of the landscape, its glass facade faces the fjord and acts as a "fishing net" between the space and the church. From the outside, the building is two solid stone structures with ecllesiastical overtones. The composition emphasizes the nave of the church with the choir in relation with the old church to the southeast.

The interior emphasizes the exterior vistas and can be further divided along the line that light falls into it, using transparent textiles woven into the net structure. The nave is extended to the northwest to end in a scenic amphitheater structure providing seating for outdoor events. The central aisle extends from the interior into the exterior space joining the two. The church was designed by KHR Arkitekter.

Buddhist Temple

The recently constructed Indian-style Buddhist Temple merges the cultural heritage between India and China. In recognition of the historical importance of the White Horse Temple in India-China relations, it was decided by the two countries to jointly build an Indian-style Buddhist temple in the International Garden Complex adjacent to the White Horse Temple. To select the design for the temple, an architectural design competition was organised, inviting six architects from all over India, with the design of M/s Akshaya Jain & Raka Chakravarty, New Delhi selected.

The design of the temple draws inspiration from the famous Sanchi Stupa in India, with the main temple hall a stupa-shaped circular hall placed axially within a colonnaded enclosure. It has a 80 ft. diameter domed roof with a glass-covered skylight on top. Installed within the Hall is a 15 ft. high Buddha Idol, based on the famous 5th century Buddha idol in Sarnath. In addition to the hall, the complex provides seminar halls, conference rooms and a two story exhibition hall.

La Devesa Footbridge

This 213 ft (64.9 m) long pedestrian bridge was designed to cross the Ter River, which has a 16 ft. (5 m.) difference in height between the two banks. The footbridge connects La Devesa with a railway station across the river. As with the Gentil Bridge in Paris, the arch, which has a height of 21 ft. (6.4 m.), counters the tendency of the bridge to rotate due to the weight of the cantilevered walkway.

The height difference is handled by keeping the bridge's walkway at the higher bank's level until it is fully across the river, and then reversing direction with a stair that leads the pedestrian down to the lower bank's ground level. The maximum span of the bridge is 144 ft. (43.9 m.).

Ole Bull's Villa

The villa on Lysoen (the Island of Light) was built as a summer residence for the Norwegian violin-virtuoso Ole Bull in 1873. Ole Bull also transformed his 175 acre island property into a fairy-tale kingdom by having romantic paths (approx. 13 km.), ponds and gazebos made by planting exotic trees and bushes in the native pine forest. In 1973 his granddaughter donated the villa and all it's contents to the Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments.

The villa was inspired by numerous architectural styles, including the Swiss chalet style and Moorish architecture. Ole Bull drew the building himself, under the supervision of architect Conrad Fredrik von der Lippe. The architecture of the wooden building is inspired by many different architectural styles. It has a tower formed as an onion dome, common in Russian architecture, and many wooden carvings.

Solstrand Hotel

Solstrand was built in 1896 by Christian Michelsen, who became Norway's first prime minister after gaining independence from Sweden in 1905. It was built as a holiday resort for the Bergen merchant-princes, with a magnificent view of the Folgefonna glacier.

Michelsen sold the hotel in 1908 and it had several owners until the Schau-Larsen family bought it in 1929. Four generations later, the Schau-Larsen family continues to take great pride in extending warmth and hospitality to Solstrand's guests. Restoration and extension have expanded the hotels offerings to 135 guest rooms, all with individual decor and charm. The new spa embodies Nordic purity and simplicity and inspire the spas architecture, which incorporates stone, wood, glass, bronze and running water to harmonize with the natural landscape. Natural light pours through floor-to-ceiling windows, which afford breathtaking views of the fjord.

Alcazaba of Almeria

The Alcazaba of Almería is a fortified complex in southern Spain, begun around 995 as a defensive citadel and provided not only defensive walls and towers, but also public squares, houses and a mosque, and was the seat of the local government. The complex was enlarged in 1012-1028.

The complex includes three lines of walled defense, first wide enclosure corresponding to the first Muslim military camp, followed by a second wall, the so called Muro de la Vela (Wall of the Sail) and included much of the domestic aspects of the complex. The third enclosure, the more external, is also the most modern. After the Christian conquest of Almería, Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand I of Aragon had a castle built in the most elevated sector of the town, more apt to resist to the new powder artillery.

Lusitania Bridge

The Lusitania Bridge, 526 ft. (160.3 m.) long, was designed to replace a 2000 year old Roman bridge, the Puente Romano, which had been switched to allow foot traffic only, so a new bridge was needed to handle the increase in traffic. The Puente Romano is the longest surviving bridge from ancient times, having once featured an estimated overall length of 2,477 ft. (755 m.) with 62 spans.

The main load bearing element of the Lusitania Bridge is a continuous box girder, a torque tube 14.5 ft. (4.45 m.) deep, constructed from post-tensioned, precast concrete supporting the dual roadway on each side of the arch. Prestressed concrete wings supporting the road decks cantilever from the concrete box girder, strengthening the leaping effect of the arch. Its maximum span is 620 ft (189.0 m.), and an arch height of 105 ft. (32 m.).

Palazzi Barbaro

The Palazzi Barbaro, are a pair of adjoining palaces, in the San Marco district of Venice, located on the Grand Canal of Venice, next to the Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti. The first of the two palaces was built in 1425 in the Gothic Style by Giovanni Bon, one of Venice's master stonemasons.

The second structure was executed in the Baroque style and was designed in 1694 by Antonio Gaspari, one of the notable architects of the 1600s. Originally two stories and belonging to the Tagliapietra family, they gave the Barbaro family permission to build on top. Gaspari's building housed the Barbaro family's ballroom which included a magnificent interior of Baroque stucco-work, paintings of ancient Roman subject matter, such as Sebastiano Ricci's Rape of the Sabine Women and works by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta.

Vancouver Convention Center West

With the addition of the West Building, the Vancouver Convention Center tripled its capacity, for a combined total of 473,532 sq. ft., pre-convention meeting, exhibition, ballroom and theater space. Built over land and water, with floor-to-ceiling glass throughout, the design, created by Seattle-based LMN Architects, the LEED Canada Gold certification includes a living roof, seawater heating and cooling, on-site water treatment and a fish habitat built into the foundation.

The six acre living roof is landscaped with more than 400,000 indigenous plants and grasses, and at the time of completion, was the largest green roof in Canada. It provides not only a habitat for birds, insects and small mammals, but acts as an insulator reducing heat gains in summer and heat losses in winter. The underside of the roof has Douglas fir slats and metal bar grating fascia.

Wells Cathedral

Built between 1175 and 1490, much of the structure is in the Early English style and is greatly enriched by the deeply sculptural nature of the mouldings and the carved capitals in a foliate style known as stiff leaf. The eastern end has retained much of its original glass, which is rare in England. The exterior has a splendid Early English façade and a large central tower.

The first church was established on the site in 705. Construction of the present building began in the 10th century and was largely complete at the time of its dedication in 1239. It has undergone several expansions and renovations. The present structure was begun under the direction of Bishop Reginald de Bohun, who died in 1184, dates primarily from the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries; the nave and transept are masterpieces of the Early English style of architecture.

Sparkling Hill Resort

Containing 152 guestrooms and suites, located on a granite ridge overlooking Okanagan Lake and the peaks of the Monashee Moutains, the resort is due to open in March 2010. The name of the resort derives from the Swarovski Crystal that is incorporated in every aspect of the design, from the waterfalls and fireplaces to the exterior finishes.

Designed by architectural firm Cannon Design of Vancouver, interiors by Seeton Shinkewski Design Group and crystal architecture elements by Andreas Altmayer from Swarovski Crystal in Austria. The hotel is 240,000 sq.ft. (22,400 sq. m.) and carved into the surrounding granite rock situated on 174 acres next to the Predator Ridge Golf Resort. The facility also include 6,420 sq. ft. of meeting space and complete underground parking.

Hangar 7

In 2001 ground breaking began on the hanger that would hold the unique collection of historical aircraft needed by the Flying Bulls, and needed to be large just to house the Douglas DC-6B alone. Hangar 7 was opened in 2003, is shaped like a wing, with a transparent shell open to the sky. The area covered by the superstructure is 44,130 sq. ft. with a footprint of 39,800 sq. ft. The maximum clear interior span is 310 ft. by 215 ft. with a 49 ft. height.

The 1,500 ton steel construction frames 1,754 glass panes weighing 380 tons. Designed by architectural firm Burgstaller, with steel and glass construction by Waagner-Biro Stahlbau AG, the roof is in the form of an ellipsoid with tilted axis. Load-bearing structures are made of welded tubular steel trusses and Ringpfetten single-layer, point-fixed glass covering.

Seelbach Hilton Hotel

In 1903 brothers Otto and Louis Seelbach began construction of the hotel, creating a lavish, turn-of-the-century Beaux Arts Baroque hotel. Sparing no expense, they imported marbles from all over the world, bronzes from France, hardwoods from the West Indies and Europe, linens from Ireland, and valuable Turkish and Persian Rugs.

Billed as the only fireproof hotel in the city, the new Seelbach opened in 1905. The hotel was so popular, the Seelbach brothers began a 154-room addition in the fall of that same year. In 1907, the expansion was completed and included the famous Bavarian-style Rathskeller, decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery. Today the Rathskeller remains the only surviving ensemble of its kind.

Jefferson County Courthouse

Approved for construction in 1890 by the Jefferson County Commissioners, the Romanesque style courthouse was designed by Seattle architect W. A. Ritchie, and its Clock Tower installed in 1892. The original plans called for a tower 140 ft. tall, but for some unknown reason the tower measures only 124 ft. In the summer of 2006 the courthouse was retro-fitted to secure the bell tower and to preserve the structure.

While the deep red, smooth bricks were shipped in from St. Louis, some 786 tons of sandstone were brought in from Alaska. Corridor walls were accented with wainscoting and in the two main halls geometrically patterned quarry tile floors were laid. The counters in the offices were modular units of oak that could be reassembled and all were faced with rose marble. The courtroom, housed on the second floor, still displays panels of intricately carved solid oak.

Manresa Castle Hotel

Completed in 1892 as the home of Charles and Kate Eisenbeis, it was built as the largest private residence in Port Townsend, with 30 rooms. Locals referred to the building as the Eisenbeis Castle. Charles died in 1902 and the Castle was left empty for almost 20 years. In l927 the Jesuit priests purchased the building for use as a training college. They named the complex Manresa Hall after the town in Spain where Ignatius Loyola founded the order. It subsequently became named Manresa Castle.

The walls were 12 inches thick, made with bricks from Eisenbeis' own brick work's and the roof was slate. Tiled fireplaces and finely crafted woodwork were installed by German artisans. In 1928, the Jesuits added a large wing housing a chapel and sleeping rooms. They also installed the elevator (an Otis). When their addition was complete, the Jesuits stuccoed over the bricks of the original portion to give the building a more uniform look.

Private residence

Designed by A-cero Architects, this private residence near Madrid is constructed with a travertine marble exterior shell, and concrete walls with an absense of interior supports. It is built on a north-south access so that sunlight streams into all the rooms, and built on a slope, all floors have direct access to the exterior.

A large steel beam marks the main entrance through an oversized door, with large windows that act more as openings providing a link between interior and exterior, and door are replaced with panels, including a 56 ft. (17 m.) opening that shifts inwards, opening up the living space to the exterior. The 2 story structure is built around a large cylinder of marble, which provides access to areas around it. The library, arranged as a great box of books, is arranged around a glass walkway overlooking the main drawing room.

Granot Loma Lodge

Granot Loma was begun by Louis and Marie Kaufman in 1919 and restored by Tom Baldwin in 1987. It is attributed to 22 architects and over 400 Scandanavian artisans. Rocks for the fireplaces were selected from Lake Superior and logs for the structure hand picked from Oregon, wrapped in burlap and shipped to the estate and are constructed over an iron frame and six foot foundation.

At 26,000 sq.ft. (2,415 sq.m.), the 50 room log lodge has random width oak flooring and a slate roof. The Great Room is 23 ft. wide by 62 ft. long with a towering 24 ft. high open-beamed ceiling and a stone fireplace built so large men can walk into it carrying 4 ft. logs. The 18 ft. long mantle is a timber thrown up by the lake from the wreck of the Independence, the first propeller-driven ship on Lake Superior. The lodge also includes thirty stone fireplaces, all of different design, fittings made in a blacksmith shop on the property, and his-and-hers wine cellars.

Bob's at the Beach

Designed by jewelry designers Bob Lindner, this 7,000 sq.ft. (650 sq. m.) 3-story private residence contains four bedrooms, 6 1/2 baths, massive glass windows overlooking Lake Tahoe, an indoor swimming pool with a 20 ft. waterfall, six fireplaces, full size pizza oven in the kitchen, and a bar made from a wooden 1949 Chriscraft boat. Designed with a contemporary nautical theme, it is located in a private gated community overlooking Lake Tahoe.

As seen on the Travel Channel's Great Lake Homes of America, the amenities list for this private residence are vast. The dining room on the second floor seats 10 and is just one of several eating areas within the home. A commercial kitchen provides gas Wolf range, full sized BBQ, dumbwaiter to all three floors, outside deck and half bath. The kitchen itself is a home within a home.

Seville Cathdral

The Cathedral of Seville in Andalucia is the largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world. At the time of its completion in the 1500s, it replaced Hagia Sophia as the largest cathedral in the world. The builders of the cathedral decided in 1401 to build a new temple, as the ancient Muslim mosque was in bad shape after the 1356 earthquake. Construction began in 1402 on the site of a former mosque, and continued until 1506.

Five years after construction ended, in 1511, the dome collapsed and work on the cathedral re-commenced. The dome again collapsed in 1888, and work was still being performed on the dome until at least 1903. The 1888 collapse occurred due to an earthquake and resulted in the destruction of every precious object below the dome at that time.

Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace is located in Port-au-Prince and is the official residence of the Haitian president. It was severely damaged in the 2010 Haiti earthquake, with sections of its third and second floors collapsing into the first. Several earlier structures were also destroyed, first during a revolt in 1869, then a second in 1912 by a explosion. The current building was built in 1918 and designed by Georges Baussan, a leading Haitian architect who was the son of a former Haitian senator and who studied at the Ecole d'Architecture in Paris.

Like other public buildings in Haiti, Baussan's National Palace drew on the tradition of French Renaissance architecture and greatly resembled structures erected in France and its colonial territories during the late 19th century, including the City Hall of Port au Prince, another Baussan creation. Painted entirely in white, the 3 story building had a front wing featuring an entrance pavilion  with four Ionic columns supporting a pedimented portico  and a roof with three symmetrically arranged domes and a number of dormers.

La City Business Center

The La City Business Center includes a center for applied linquistics (network linked classrooms), DRAAS France-comte headquarters, apartments, restaurant, bank, offices, a 109 room hotel and underground parking to accommodate 1,200 spaces.

Designed by Architecture Studio, with offices in Paris, Shanghai, Beijing and Venice, this architectural firm has an extensive portfolio ranging back to 1975 from arond the world. AS designs include cultural, commercial, office, sports and public facilities, along with urban and interior design. They state that the define architecture as "an art committed with society, the constructino of the surroundings of mankind." Founded in Paris in 1973 currently employs more than 100 people and 12 partners. Their most symbolic projects include the European Parliament, Arab World Institute and Notre Dame de l'Arche d'Alliance church.

Trump Ocean Club International Hotel

Located on the Punta Pacifica peninsula, this residential and hotel complex will contain more than 2.8 million sq. ft. (260,000 sq. m.) and contain condominium residences, hotel, spa, restaurants, and beach and yacht clubs, including a 70 story tower 961 ft. (293 m.) tall. The location is close to Panama's International Banking Center, shopping centers, and airport, and will be the largest residential real estate property in Latin America.

The tower will offer accommodation for 509 condominiums (randing from 1,076 sq. ft. (100 sq. m.) to 4,282 sq. ft. (389 sq. m.), 126 bay lofts and will open 369 hotel condominium suites for visitors. Other amenities will include a 45,000 sq. ft. Trump Casino, an Elite sky lobby and a 24 hour medical service. Designed by architect Arias Serna Saravia the project will take three years to build with completion expected in 2010.

European Parliament

As the official headquarters of the European Parliament, the building includes a hemicycle accommodating 750 seats, offices for 1,133 Parliament members, 18 commission halls that seat from 50 to 350 and food, beverage and related services for all of the above. Designed by Architecture Studio from an international competition in 1991, it provides 2,368,060 sq.ft. (220,000 sq.m.) of space.

The Louise Weiss building (IPE 4 - Immeuble du Parlement Européen 4) allows connection through a covered footbridge over the Ill to the Winston Churchill and Salvador de Madariaga buildings. With its distinctive 197 ft. (60 m.) tower, it is one of the biggest and most visible buildings of Strasbourg. After the project was approved, work started in May 1995, with up to twelve tower cranes at the time on what was one of the biggest building sites of the decade in Europe.

Grand Hôtel du Cap Ferrat

The Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat is a five star hotel, situated in the French Riviera, where luxury hotels were invented to be the stuff of dreams. The highest ranking of all the many "palaces" that sprung up all over the French Riviera, the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat overlooks the sea from the furthermost tip of the peninsula from which it takes its name.

Shortly before 1900, King Leopold sold part of his property here, reserved six and a half hectares of the land for the hotel, whose construction began in 1908 with the two wings built at an open angle to each other, then the following year a loggia dining room and the large, central Rotonde were added. By then the building had its final, distinctive silhouette, remarkably simple for the time.

Villa O

Villa O in Cap Ferrat of southeastern France is a luxury 5 story villa perched overlooking the water, this glass wall house was made to entertain, with a semi-circular patio opening onto the homes living spaces. Each main room of the house walks out onto its own balcony, terrace or patio. An infinity pool is overlooked by a Balinese-style pool house, and a modern glass elevator or stunning staircase provides access to all 5 floors.

Cap Ferrat (Cape Ferrat) is situated in southeastern France, and was once the domain of King Leopold II of Belgium. Cap Ferrat is now graced with a number of magnificent villas, and has been described as "the escape hatch from Monaco for those burdened with taste." Current famous residents include Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in Villa Maryland and theatrical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. King Leopold's private zoo on the west side of Cap Ferrat is now open to the public.

St. Regis Monarch Beach

Located in Dana Point, an exclusive beachside community, the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort is situated on 172 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean. DMJM provided detailed design, architecture, engineering, program management and construction support services for the five-star, Tuscan-inspired resort, which offers 400 guest rooms, including 74 suites. The design approach focused on maintaining the resort's commitment to the pursuit of service and elegance with a seamless blend of comfort and technology, with most of the guestrooms offering views of the Pacific Ocean.

The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort includes five-fixture marble bathrooms; state-of-the-art in-room movie/audio/ video systems; a premier 30,000 sq. ft. Gaucin Spa and fitness center; the Club 19 Golf Clubhouse with gourmet restaurant, pro golf shop, locker rooms, and cart rentals; and more than 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, featuring a 12,000 sq. ft. ballroom.

Convent of Our Lady of Saidnaya

The Convent is located in Saidnaya, north of the city of Damascus in Syria, and tradition holds that the Convent of Our Lady of Saidnaya was constructed by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I in 547 A.D., after he had two visions of Mary, one that indicated where to build the church and the other outlining its design. Saidnaya has enjoyed religious peace throughout its history, even during times of war.

Many other Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Syriac Catholic and Syriac Orthodox churches and monasteries have been built in Saidnaya throughout history. On top of the highest mountain in Saidnaya is the Cherubim Monastery. There is also the Monastery of Mar Thomas and a few massive monasteries built more recently such as St. Thomas Roman Catholic Monastery, St. Estphariuos Orthodox Monastery, and St. Ephram Monastery.

Vdara Hotel City Center

The world's premier developer and operator of luxury resorts, MGM Mirage, brings you Vdara Hotel & Spa at CityCenter - an all-suite boutique hotel with a sophisticated international flair for those who choose to experience Las Vegas in an exclusive non-gaming, smoke-free environment. Directly connected to Bellagio® and adjacent to ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara offers contemporary interior spaces with modern amenities and services, a rooftop pool and lounge and wellness spa.

In a cityscape as innovative and varied as CityCenter, the teams at New York's RV Architecture, LLC, a critically acclaimed international practice led by Rafael Viñoly were faced with a twofold challenge. First, they had to create a design that fit into CityCenter's scheme, yet still retain its own distinctive identity. Second, they had to interpret Vdara in a way that differentiated it from the existing Las Vegas skyline. The ultimate solution incorporates an overlapping crescent design that resonates with the circular themes established by Harmon Circle and ARIA Resort & Casino. The unique silhouette creates one of the most striking design statements in all of Las Vegas.

Quay West Resort and Spa

Designed by Elenber Fraser Architects, this resort, part of the St. Falls Development, is situated in the Australian Alps and blends European heritage into modern accommodations. The plan for the building fans out like giant wings, each silvered wing mirrored by unique faceting of timber cladding on the facade. Individual apartments are oriented to preserve privacy and capture the views of the valley.

The resort is accessed by a road directly through the resort, allowing direct access from car to apartment. Elenberg Fraser is known for combining environmentally sustainable structures with outstanding landmark building design while creating innovative and stylish interior living spaces. They are also know for their Huski Lodge, and recent works include Site One and Watergate commercial and retail projects, both located in the Melbourne Docklands.

BUMPS Building

Designed by SAKO Architects, the BUMPS building in Beijing is a 1,111,083 sq. ft. (103,223 sq. m.) complex of mixed-use residential and commercial units. The building is characterized by its variation between different levels, with every two floors set as a unit, and every unit staggered by 6 ft. (2 m.) horizontally, with the resulting set-back areas being used for terraces.

SAKO Architects was founded by Keiichiro Sako in 2004 and is headquartered in Beijing, China. Born in 1970, he was graduate from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, receiving his masters in 1996, then worked for Riken Yamamoto & Field Shop to 2004. His style can also be seen in Mosaic in Beijing, an apartment and commercial mixed use development.

España Library

Architect Giancarlo Mazzanti designed this hillside project for Santo Domingo in 2007 as part of the Colombian master plan to bring economic and social opportunities to its population. The structure contains a library, training and administration rooms and an auditorium separated into 3 volumes atop a singular podium. The forms appear as irregular mountain contours sitting on the mountainous terrain of the city.

Giancarlo Mazzanti Arquitectos is helping to open up architecture in South America, outside of Brazil and Chile, where contemporary architecture was successfully rooted. Giancarlo Mazzanti Sierra studied architecture at Javeriana University, Bogotá, Colombia from 1983 to 1987, and industrial design and history and theory of architecture at University of Florence in Italy from 1991 to 1992 and received the Architecture National Award in the Urban Design and Landscape category at the 10th Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2006.