The World's Most Beautiful Buildings!
It is an incontestable fact that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
What one person sees as a thing of rare and delectable beauty can be viewed as a blot on the landscape by another!
So, it is not an easy task to produce a list designating the most beautiful buildings in the world.
Nevertheless, an exhaustive trawl through numerous lists compiled by all manner of expert citizenry has thrown up some edifices repeatedly.
Careful perusal of a comprehensive number of “the most beautiful buildings in the world” inventories compiled 109 remarkable buildings worldwide.
If you are going by what is termed the “Golden Ratio” https://www.creativebloq.com/design/designers-guide-golden-ratio-12121546 the 4,000-year-old mathematical formula used to judge architecture and art, St Pauls Cathedral is THE world’s most beautiful building.
Considered to be near perfect aesthetically, this world-famous London landmark achieved a 72.28% score when aligned with this ratio.
St. Paul’s has a remarkable history.
Originally built in 604 AD under King Ethelbert of Kent, the first cathedral burned down and was rebuilt from 675 to 685 AD.
This building was then destroyed by Vikings circa 962 AD.
Having been rebuilt for a second time before burning down again, the fourth St Paul’s (known as the old St Paul’s) was built between 1087 and 1240, with further works completed in 1314.
Image: www.medievalists.net
Further setbacks occurred when the Spire was destroyed by lightening in 1561, and then during the English Civil war (1642-1651) the Cathedral fell in to an acute state of disrepair.
Disaster struck again in 1666 when the Great Fire of London totally destroyed St Paul’s (number four).
It was at this point that a decision was made to build an entirely new church. Britain’s preeminent Architect, Sir Christopher Wren, was appointed to oversee the project and after nine long years of planning, the rebuilding began.
The St. Pauls we know today was finally declared complete by parliament on Christmas Day 1711.
Restoration being deemed necessary, a project that spanned fifteen years was eventually completed on 15th June 2011.
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/articles/st-pauls-cathedral-london/
St. Paul’s was the venue of arguably the most famous wedding in history when Price Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.
Runner up on the list of 100 buildings was Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore which scored 70.88%-but it doesn’t qualify for the STS Top Ten!
Image: Wikipedia
My research has enabled me to pull together a Top 10 of what seems to be generally considered the most BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS IN THE WORLD.
Scoring based on our unique STS criteria, aligned with the Golden Ratio!
No. 1: St Basil’s Cathedral (Moscow, Russia)
STS Score: 9
(Golden Ratio Score 69.10%-5th out of 50)
Image: Viator.
Ivan the Terrible commissioned Architect Postnick Yakovlev to design this incredible Orthodox Church building. Built between 1555 and 1561, it is Moscow’s most famous landmark and most popular tourist attraction.
Located in the Red Square (just outside the gates of the Kremlin) it is said to have been shaped to resemble the rising flames of a bonfire.
Its architectural beauty combined with its wonderful colour scheme ensure it truly stands out as one of the most remarkable buildings of all time.
No.2 Taj Mahal (Agra, India)
STS Score: 8
(Golden Ratio Score: 67.45%-8th out of 50)
Image: Smithsonian Magazine
Devastated following the death of his wife during childbirth, Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan ordered this white marble Mausoleum to be built as a memorial to her.
The building work took 22 years (between 1632 and 1643 and apparently involved over 20,000 labourers (and 1,000 elephants)
One of the planets truly iconic buildings, it is often regarded as one of the “wonders of the world”.
No.3 La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona, Spain)
STS Score: 7
(Golden Ratio Score: 43.23%-32nd out of 50)
Image: Loney Panet
Catalan Architect, Antoni Gaudi, was the man whose vision was behind the creation of this remarkable basilica.
With 18 magnificent spires, this masterpiece of modernism is still a project in progress! Surely one of the lengthiest building assignments in history?
Begun in 1882, it was hoped the Sagrada Familia would be completed in 2026 (the centenary of Gaudi’s death) but, due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, it appears this is no longer feasible!
Barcelona’s most Iconic landmark draws around 5 million visitors annually.
No.4 St Paul’s Cathedral (London, UK)
STS Score: 6
(Golden Ratio Score: 72.28%-1st out of 50)
(See details above)
No.5 The Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem, Israel)
STS Score: 6
(Golden Ratio Score: 39.99%-38th out of 50)
Image: Tourist Israel
This 7th century masterpiece of Islamic Architecture was built by Caliph Abd al-Malik between 687 and 691 AD.
The fabulous Persian Tiles were added to the exterior by Suleiman 1 in 1561.
It is the most venerated existing Islamic monument.
No.6 Osaka Castle (Osaka, Japan)
STS Score: 5
(Golden Ratio Score: 70.38%-4th out of 50)
Image: PlanetWare
Beautiful Osaka Castle is now a five-storey museum, comprising 13 structures over an area of 61,000 square metres.
Completed in 1593, it is arguably the most famous Castle in Japan.
No.7 Casa Mila (La Pedrera) (Barcelona, Spain)
STS Score: 5
(Golden Ratio Score: 68.64%-6th out of 50)
Image: BCN Travel
Another masterpiece from Antoni Gaudi, showcasing his extraordinary imagination!
Combining the unusual with the beautiful, this unique house was completed in 1912.
It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
No.8 Neuschwanstein Castle (Schwangau, Germany)
STS Score: 5
(Golden Ratio Score: 63.10%-10th out of 50)
Image: TravelAwaits
This quintessential “fairy tale castle” was built by King Lidwig ii of Bavaria in the 1870’s.
It is famous for appearing in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
The word “Neuschwanstein” literally translates as “New Swan Castle,” Beautiful indeed.
No.9 Cathedral Brasilia (Brasilia, Brazil)
STS Score: 5
(Golden Ratio Score: 55.79%-15th out of 50)
Image: Conde Nast Traveler
Created between 1958 and 1970 by Architect Oscar Niemeyer in collaboration with Structural Engineer Joaquim Cardozo, this Roman Catholic Cathedral personifies perfection in symmetry and angles and is quite simply the last word Brazilian Building Beauty!
No.10 Fallingwater (Pennsylvania, USA)
STS Score: 3
(Golden Ratio Score: N/A)*
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the renowned American architect, Fallingwater is probably the most famous private residence on the planet.
Completed in 1937 for the Kaufmann family, it has been open to the public since 1964 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2019.
Image: Rebrickable
It is so famous, Lego produced a model, and it is the inspiration of craft lovers everywhere as evidenced by this gingerbread version showcased at a festival in Utah (below).
Image: home-designing.com
STS know a thing or two about what makes a building beautiful.
With our elegant range of tile trims designed to enhance the ascetics and finish of high-end building projects, through to our NoMorePly® the ultimate surface range of tile backing, flooring and render boards, allied with the system of accessories to ensure a perfect installation with the minimum of fuss, we provide an offering that lays the foundation for true beauty to emerge.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but it is also in the eye of the mind and so whatever exquisite, stunning or delightful plans you might have for the property of your dreams STS have everything you need on which to base the cornerstone of your aspirations!
*Strictly speaking, Fallingwater DIDN’T actually quite make it in to the top ten based on the STS criteria, but I had to include it as it’s my personal favourite!