When you think of art, some of the most recognizable and breathtaking works take a less traditional form. The most elaborate designs in architecture are steeped in history and innovation. Many of today's most stunning structures are influenced by ARTchitecture from Roman, Greek and French culture. Although there are hundreds of buildings that stand out as architectural creations, not all of them are considered ARTchitecture. Our list of highlights contains only a sliver of the most amazing artistic structures in the world. The next time you travel, take note of the elaborate designs of the buildings around you and consider their historic influences. To see modern works of art in a virtual gallery, visit Gallery24Seven.com.

2. GREECE
BALANCE
PROPORTION
SIMPLICITY
The Greek culture had a penchant for integrating structural
marvels with visually appealing lines to create the Corinthian,
Doric and Ionic orders. These three column fundamentals
became the bases for temples, stadiums and theatrical
layouts that are still seen in the modern structures of today.

3. While there are many examples of columns, steps and platforms in ancient
Greek culture, one of the most familiar and inspirational is THE PARTHENON.
GREECE

4. THE PARTHENON
Athens, Greece
Design Architects – Ictinus and Calibrates

5. This enormous structure was built to herald
and protect a larger-than-life gold and ivory
statue of the Greek goddess Athena. Built
under the direction of Pericles, The Parthenon
was completed in 432 BCE. This stone temple
is one of many made with architecture that
was sophisticated even in its time.
PARTHENON

6. The interior statue of Athena Parthenos was designed by Phidias and
Kalamis, as were many of the Parthenon’s decorative elements.
PARTHENON

7. TAKING
THINGS
TO ANOTHER
LEVEL
ROME
The Romans followed the essential Greek elements, building
upon them to design and create some functional and
decorative structures of their own. Their grasp of ARTchitecture
led to two more orders, Tuscan and Composite, and even
more impressive design fundamentals.

8. The use of arches, cornices, verandas, decorations, domes and columns
morphed into basilicas, bath houses, grand residences and public buildings.
Outdoor structures of grandeur included amphitheaters, aqueducts, fountains,
bridges and arches conceived in Rome and constructed throughout the
Empire. The Colosseum is among these advanced structures.
ROME

9. FRANCE
INSPIRED
BY
ROME
The Roman Empire began its quest into modern-day France
around 125 BCE. The structural and artistic foundations of
Roman ARTchitecture were expanded and improved upon
over the next several centuries as the Empire itself crumbled.

10. Paris is often considered the fascinating birthplace of ingenuity, changing
the face of architecture and engineering during the Romanesque, Gothic,
Renaissance, Classicism, Neoclassic and Modern periods. Strong lines, simple
curves, balconies, asymmetrical shapes and intricately ornate decorations
are just a few of the creative elements. These Parisian influences are seen in
basilicas, towers, palaces and stately buildings.
FRANCE

11. BASILIQUE CATHÉDRALE DE SAINT DENIS
Saint Denis, France
Design Architects – Under the direction of Abbot Suger

12. A notable example of ARTchitecture in Paris, the first Gothic cathedral was built in
nearby Saint Denis. Its most significant construction lasted from 1140 to 1144. The
abbey was the resting place of many French kings, and a centerpiece for Catholic
worship. Ornate decorations include stained glass, 70 sculpted statues, crenellated
parapets, and walls painted in gold and bright colors. Columns, arches, high ceilings
and buttresses from the Basilique Cathedrale de Saint Denis were mimicked in many
other basilicas and buildings through time.
BASILIQUE CATHÉDRALE

13. PONT DU GARD
The Gardon River, France
Design Architects – Under the direction of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa

14. Often considered an artistic and engineering masterpiece, the Pont du Gard is
part of an aqueduct system built by the Romans early in the 1st century. Under
the rule of the Roman Empire, the nearby city of Nives relied on this innovative
water supply system. . It’s a three-story structure of arches nearly 55 yards high
and 31 miles long. More than 50 tons of yellow limestone were cut into slabs,
numbered and assembled, then held together with mortar.
PONT DU GARD

15. The project was directed by the son-in-law of Augustus, although the names of
the architects and engineers are unknown. A similar series of arches and pillars
are seen in many bridges and waterways throughout the world.
PONT DU GARD

16. FAMOUS ARTCHITECTURE
TREND
SETTERS
There are hundreds of structures throughout the world that
have borrowed their ARTchitectural designs from the Greek,
Roman and Parisian pioneers. Some of the most stunning are
both beautiful and functional at the same time.

17. BURJ KHALIFA
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Design Architects – Adrian Smith, FAIA of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill

18. 2,723feet tall
At 2,723 feet tall, the Burj Khalifa dominates the landscape of Dubai. It was
designed by the same architectural firm as the Willis Tower in Chicago to
become the tallest building in the world. Completed in 2010, the Burj Khalifa
has more than 160 stories. Its influences and inspirations stem from Islamic
architecture, especially from the visionary onion domes and spires.
BURJ KHALIFA

19. MUSEO GUGGENHEIM
Bilbao, Spain
Design Architect – Frank Gehry

20. Interconnecting blocks and curling sheets of titanium are
the main exterior features of this 1997 art museum. It plays to
the industrial area where it was erected. Reminiscent of the
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, which was built
by Frank Lloyd Wright, it has geometric shapes, sharp angles
and flowing curves. It also borrows its asymmetrical shapes and
buttresses from Parisian architecture.
INDUSTRIAL
MASTERPIECE
MUSEO GUGGENHEIM

21. WINTER PALACE
St. Petersburg, Russia
Design Architect – Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli

22. This light green building takes up a full block, featuring 1,945
windows, an arched entryway and ornate white columns
bedecked in gold. While the statues lining the top of the
building are much smaller than the statues of ancient Greece,
they are every bit as detailed.
LET
THE
LIGHT
IN
WINTER PALACE
1,945windows

23. It was once the winter home for Russian czars and their families,
but is now part of the State Hermitage Museum. The palace
was built between 1754 and 1762 for Empress Elizabeth, and
embraces Baroque architecture.
WINTER PALACE

24. TAJ MAHAL
Angra, India
Design Architect – Built for Shah Jahan, emperor of India

25. One of the most artistic and recognizable structures in the world,
the Taj Mahal was designed by unknown architects. Work began
in 1631 after the death of the Indian ruler’s second wife, Mumtaz
Mahal. The main building was finished in 1648, with surrounding
buildings completed within the next five years.
MYSTERY
MADE
TAJ MAHAL

26. It serves as a tribute to her; a tomb, mosque and museum,
featuring gardens, fountains and gateways. The arches, stone
inlays and decorative calligraphy enhance Islamic domes and
spires atop the structure.
TAJ MAHAL

27. CENTRE POMPIDOU
Paris, France
Design Architect – Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano

28. This revolutionary art museum took Paris by storm upon
its completion in 1977. While it wasn’t a favorite among
locals because it appeared more like a building that
had been turned inside-out, the tide has changed. It’s
now considered a modern work of art, featuring its metal
pipes and support structures on the exterior.
INSIDE
OUT
CENTRE POMPIDOU

29. The building was created in honor of former President
Georges Pompidou, and houses two art galleries,
a restaurant and a museum. With the innovation of
early Parisian architects as inspiration, the see-through
escalator tubes on the exterior still raise some eyebrows.
CENTRE POMPIDOU

30. POTALA PALACE
Tibet, China
Design Architect – Under direction of King Songtsen Gampo

31. This former home of the Dalai Lama has more than 1,000
rooms. It was built by a workforce of 7,000 people for a
Tibetan King to honor of his bride in the 7th century. It’s a
13-story structure that resembles a traditional Buddhist temple.
Three large figures are housed in the Red Palace, influenced
by the Greek construction of temples and statues. The Red
Palace in the center is used for religious study. The White
Palace is used for living quarters and office space.
POTALA PALACE

32. MUSEU OSCAR NIEMEYER
Curitiba, Brazil
Design Architect – Oscar Niemeyer

33. This art museum is nicknamed “The Eye” because of its familiar
shape. Its 60-foot-tall yellow base adorned with a long,
swerving ramp supports the bright gallery on top. Niemeyer
designed many buildings in Brazil and throughout the world.
This one was completed in 2002. While many claim that he
inspired only himself, the simple curves in many of his buildings
could be an influence of Parisian architecture.
MUSEU OSCAR NIEMEYER

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