Marina Bay Sands

20th and 21st-century architecture has transformed city centers with structures that push engineering boundaries. Observation towers like the Seattle Space Needle and experimental residential complexes like Habitat 67 in Montreal demonstrate the evolution of construction techniques. Architects have explored new forms using materials such as steel, glass, and concrete, creating structures that meet the growing demands of metropolitan areas. This collection includes buildings that marked their time with innovative design. In Barcelona, Antoni Gaudí's Casa Milà features a wavy facade that breaks traditional norms, while in London, 30 St Mary Axe incorporates energy-saving technologies into its 180-meter structure. From Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum clad in titanium to artificial islands shaped in the Persian Gulf in Dubai, these projects illustrate the diversity of architectural approaches worldwide. Each building reflects its urban context while offering solutions to technical and functional challenges of its era.

This collection brings together skyscrapers that showcase advances in modern engineering and architecture worldwide. These structures rise above metropolises and reshape city horizons, from the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab in Dubai to the CCTV headquarters in Beijing with its two linked towers. Each building reflects a unique architectural approach and technical innovations tailored to its environment. The selection spans all continents and features buildings with various functions. The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, 452 meters high and connected by a sky bridge, stand alongside New York’s One World Trade Center, which reaches 541 meters. The Lakhta Center in Saint Petersburg is notable for its twisted glass facade, while the Torre Costanera in Santiago offers panoramic views of the Andes. Whether residential buildings like the Eureka Tower in Melbourne or commercial structures such as the Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, these constructions demonstrate how contemporary architecture shapes 21st-century cities.

The world of skyscrapers reflects the technical and architectural developments of recent decades. From New York to Dubai and Shanghai, buildings have risen that now define their cities' skylines while combining different construction traditions and innovations. This collection includes towers across multiple continents, among them the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which at 2,717 feet (828 meters) stands as the world's tallest completed structure, and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, which served for years as a reference point for modern Asian design. The buildings listed serve various functions: office complexes such as One World Trade Center in New York or Shanghai Tower combine workspaces with observation decks, while the Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower in Mecca blends religious and commercial uses. In Europe, The Shard in London, Tour Montparnasse in Paris, and Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt represent examples of high-rise buildings in historically developed cities. Other structures like Lakhta Center in Saint Petersburg or Gran Torre Santiago in Chile demonstrate that this building form has expanded well beyond traditional centers. Visiting these towers offers more than views from considerable heights. Many feature public areas, restaurants, or exhibitions that provide insight into urban development and the technical requirements of such projects. The towers exist in different urban contexts and show how architecture adapts to local conditions.

This collection presents significant architectural works from different periods and continents. From medieval cathedrals to contemporary skyscrapers, the selection documents the technical and aesthetic development of building design. The listed buildings were created by influential architects and have shaped the evolution of modern architecture. The list includes religious structures such as Gothic churches and monasteries, public facilities like museums and concert halls, and residential buildings that established new construction standards. Each building demonstrates particular structural solutions or stylistic features that contribute to understanding architectural history. The selection offers insights into various building styles, materials and construction methods.

This collection brings together some of the most technically ambitious structures ever built, from record-breaking skyscrapers and suspension bridges to high-speed roller coasters that push the boundaries of what steel and concrete can achieve. These sites span continents and represent decades of engineering progress, offering visitors a chance to experience human innovation at heights and speeds that were once impossible. Whether you're standing on the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, walking across the glass floor panels of the CN Tower in Toronto, or racing through the launch sequence of Kingda Ka in New Jersey, each structure tells a story of technical ambition and problem-solving. The collection includes landmarks like the 324-meter Eiffel Tower in Paris, completed for the 1889 World Exhibition, and modern marvels such as Tokyo Skytree, which rises 634 meters above the city. You'll find the Millau Viaduct spanning the Tarn River valley in France at a height of 336 meters (1,100 feet), the tilted medieval bell tower in Pisa leaning at a 3.97-degree angle, and Russia's SkyBridge suspended between mountain peaks at 2,320 meters (7,600 feet) elevation. These places attract millions of visitors each year, offering not just views and thrills but a firsthand understanding of what modern engineering can accomplish when designers set out to build something exceptional.

Public squares across Asia combine historical significance with contemporary urban life. These spaces have served as centers for commerce, political gatherings and social events for centuries, reflecting the cultural evolution of their regions. Visitors encounter monuments symbolizing national identity, religious sites preserving spiritual traditions, and architecture spanning from imperial dynasties to the present day. Notable examples include Tiananmen Square in Beijing, one of the world's largest public plazas, and Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, a 17th-century masterpiece of Persian urban planning. In Kathmandu, Durbar Square showcases Newari architecture, while Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul merges modern urban design with historical references. Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul sits between Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks, and Rizal Park in Manila commemorates the Philippine independence movement. These squares remain active components of urban life, offering travelers opportunities to experience local customs, street markets and seasonal festivals.

A list of unique natural swimming pools and basins has been compiled. Some are bold architectural constructions, others are the result of geological phenomena. Some are located in luxury hotels, others are accessible to the public. What makes these sites particularly interesting is their diversity: there are pools hanging at several hundred meters altitude overlooking cities, geothermal basins fed directly by volcanic activity, a 40-meter deep diving pool in Italy, and even a natural basin formed in rock on a Greek island. There are also recent installations that push engineering boundaries as well as historic sites used for nearly a century. Whether you seek relaxation in thermal waters or swimming with panoramic views, this selection provides a good overview of what exists.

This collection brings together high rises and structures from different continents that redefine conventional building standards through their exceptional architecture. From the spiral rotation of Turning Torso in Malmö to the distinctive form of the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, these buildings showcase innovative approaches to construction and design. The selection includes Burj Khalifa in Dubai, currently the world's tallest building at 2,717 feet (828 meters), as well as Marina Bay Sands in Singapore with its distinctive rooftop terrace. The collection also presents cultural facilities such as the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao by Frank Gehry with its sculptural titanium facades and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Additional examples are the Absolute World Towers in Mississauga, known as the Marilyn Monroe Towers for their twisted structure, as well as Shanghai Tower, which rises 2,073 feet (632 meters). The Guangzhou Opera House and the Helix Bridge in Singapore demonstrate the diversity of contemporary architectural solutions. Each of these structures combines technical innovation with architectural vision and shapes its city's skyline. From historic skyscrapers like the Empire State Building to modern developments like Bosco Verticale in Milan with its planted facades, this selection offers insights into the evolution of high rise construction worldwide.

This collection brings together major works by architect Moshe Safdie, whose practice is distinguished by particular attention to natural light, outdoor spaces, and the integration of buildings into their surroundings. From Montreal to Singapore, through Jerusalem and several American cities, his projects demonstrate an approach that seeks to reconcile contemporary needs with respect for local contexts. Among the featured works are Habitat 67 in Montreal, an experimental residential complex composed of stacked concrete modules offering each unit its own terrace, and the Marina Bay Sands complex in Singapore with its three towers connected by a 340-meter terrace. The collection also includes several museums such as the Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, and the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. Other projects like the Salt Lake City Public Library, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, or the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex in India illustrate the diversity of architectural programs entrusted to Safdie throughout his career.

Singapore combines modern architecture with cultural diversity within a compact area, providing photographers with varied settings just a few subway stations apart. The city features futuristic sites such as the Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay, standing 25 to 50 meters tall (82 to 164 feet), Marina Bay Sands with its 200-meter (656-foot) high rooftop, and the Helix Bridge, a pedestrian walkway designed to resemble a DNA double helix. The historic districts contrast with these modern structures. Chinatown retains its Chinese temples and arcade houses, Little India its spice markets and colorful facades, while Haji Lane in Kampong Glam lines with independent boutiques and wall murals in a narrow alley. The Merlion Park at Marina Bay, with its 8.6-meter-long (28 feet) statue blending lion and fish, remains the most photographed symbol of the city-state. Sentosa’s beaches, accessible by cable car, add a coastal element to this dense urban landscape.