Piano house, Musical building in Huainan, China
The Piano house is a building complex in Huainan consisting of a large black grand piano and a transparent violin, both reproduced at full scale. These two structures house exhibition spaces for urban planning displays and two concert halls for musical performances.
The project was designed in 2007 by architecture students from Hefei University of Technology as part of urban development efforts in the Shannan district. Its creation marked a turning point in the city's rapid modernization during this growth period.
The building demonstrates how contemporary Chinese architects engage with Western classical music traditions through innovative design, creating a shared language between music and architecture. Visitors can experience this fusion directly as they move through the structures.
Access to the grand piano is gained through escalators running through the interior of the transparent violin, creating a distinctive journey. Plan time to explore both structures fully, as the exhibitions and concert halls occupy different areas of the complex.
The escalators guide visitors through the interior glass structure of the violin, turning each ascent into a passage through the instrument itself. This technical solution merges functional design with artistic concept in an unexpected way.
Location: Huainan
GPS coordinates: 32.60740,117.00728
Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:04
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.
Architecture does not have to follow straight lines and right angles. This collection presents buildings that stand out through their form: domes, spirals, tilted facades or organic structures that recall animals or plants. From Gaudí's mosaic covered works in Barcelona to the stacked concrete cubes of Habitat 67 in Montreal or the conical trulli of Alberobello, these structures demonstrate alternative approaches to construction. Some emerged from technical necessity, such as the temporary cardboard cathedral in Christchurch after the 2011 earthquake. Others are artistic statements: the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao with its titanium plates, the Dancing House in Prague or the cubist houses in Rotterdam. In Đà Lạt, the Crazy House transforms tree trunks and caves into habitable spaces, while the Atomium in Brussels represents a magnified iron crystal. These structures attract visitors but also raise questions about function and livability. The Longaberger Basket Building in Ohio takes the form of a seven story basket. The Lotus Temple in New Delhi uses concrete shells to form 27 petals. The Aldar headquarters in Abu Dhabi resembles a circular coin. These buildings expand the definition of what architecture can be.
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