Amazing Architecture

Peace Bridge (located in Calgary, Canada), will be just a small pedestrian bridge across the Bow River. This is not huge supertall investment, but I think that it is worth to see it (available still only on renders but the grand opening is planned on 2010).  Many people call this project too extravagant and taking away the attention from the rest of the city, but I think that every architecture that can defend itself in stand alone fight is good. This bridge will be 6.2 meters wide. Bike lanes will be placed in center of the structure and pedestrian walks on both sides. Red and white on the outside, white on the inside will be filled with LED lights to make the impression even better. It is expected to carry over 5000 people each day.

This original project comes from great architect Santiago Calatrava.

Peace Bridge, calgary. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums, copyrights by Santiago Calatrava.

Peace Bridge, calgary. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums, copyrights by Santiago Calatrava.

Peace Bridge, calgary. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums, copyrights by Santiago Calatrava.

I really wanted to find some high constructions in Europe, but it is not so easy as it seems. Europe is traditionally more “low”, except for Russia where the highest skyscrapers on the continent are projected and constructed. There are many skyscrapers in Frankfurt, but I decided to show you some examples of recent work in Madrid.

Cuatro Torres Business Area. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Cuatro Torres Business Area means: the Four Towers Business Area. This complex is placed in Madrid, Spain. It is one of the examples how to build some interesting buildings that are high, elegant and sophisticated. Cuatro Torres Business Area consist four high towers: Torre Espacio (57 floors, 226 meters high, 774 feet), Torre Caja Madrid (45 floors, 250 m, 820 ft), Torre de Cristal (52 floors, 249,5 m, 818 ft) and Torre Sacyr Vallehermoso (52 floors, 236 m, 774 ft).

Every tower has its own original design and architecture.

Cuatro Torres Business Area. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Torre Espacio was topped out on March 19, 2007 and is surpassed by Gran Hotel Bali.

Cuatro Torres Business Area. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Torre Caja Madrid is the tallest of the four buildings, and designed by Norman Foster.

Cuatro Torres Business Area. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Torre de Cristal is designed by Cesar Pelli and filled with offices.

Torre Sacyr Vallehermoso was completed in 2008 and designed by Carlos Rubio Carvajal and Enrique Álvarez-Sala Walter.

Cuatro Torres Business Area. Photo taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang – voted the ugliest building in the world. But it is not yet finished. The construction started in 1987 and stopped in 1992 during the lack of funds. The basic structure of the building was finished but without any elevation, so:

Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang. Taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

And that’s how the hotel looks like in 2009. I guess that after finishing it won’t be so ugly after all:

Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang. Taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

And here are some examples of finished buildings that are not very pretty:

Ministry of Interrogation, Moscow:

Ministry of Interrogation, Moscow. Taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Mirador, Madrid:

Mirador, Madrid. Taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Genex Tower, Belgrade:

Genex Tower, Belgrade. Taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Elephant Building, Bangkok:

Elephant Building, Bangkok. Taken from Skyscrapercity forums.

Tower Velasca , Milan:

Tower Velasca , Milan. Taken from Skyscrapercity forums.